Arson Attack on French Synagogue

French police arrested an Algerian man after he set fire to the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte, France, on Saturday.

Arson: The 33-year-old man lit several of the synagogue’s doors and two nearby cars on fire early Saturday morning. Five people, including the rabbi, were inside at the time.

One of the cars contained a gas canister, which caused an explosion. Two hundred police officers had been sent to hunt for the attacker, and one was injured when the car exploded.

The suspect was wearing a Palestinian flag wrapped around his waist and a kaffiyeh around his head.

When officers confronted the arsonist, he shot at them and police returned fire. The attacker was injured and arrested along with two other suspects.

Anti-Semitic terrorism: Jewish community leader Yonathan Arfi condemned the attack as “an attempt to kill Jews.” French President Emmanuel Macron said it was a “terrorist act.”

This is an anti-Semitic attack. Once more, our Jewish compatriots are targeted.
—Gabriel Attal, French prime minister

France has seen a massive rise in anti-Semitic attacks since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Europe has become mixed up in the tension between Jews and Islam.

To understand, watch “After Gaza, Europe Fears a Terrorist Attack.”