On Saturday, an explosion outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Motte, a seaside town in southern France, injured a police officer. The blast was triggered by two cars that were set on fire, leading to the explosion, according to authorities.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described the incident as “an obviously criminal act” and stated that “all means are being deployed to find the perpetrator.”
He announced that police protection for synagogues, Jewish schools, and shops across France would be increased in response to the attack.
William Maury from the police union Alliance Police Nationale assured that the injured officer’s life is not in danger.
Although police confirmed the attempted arson, they did not release further details. Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal were scheduled to visit the scene later on Saturday.
The investigation has been handed over to the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office, and police are actively searching for suspects. Prime Minister Attal condemned the attack as anti-Semitic, stating on X, “This is an antisemitic attack.
Once more, our Jewish compatriots are targeted. We won’t give up. In the face of anti-Semitism, in the face of violence, we will never allow ourselves to be intimidated.”
The explosion, likely caused by a gas canister hidden in one of the vehicles, occurred during a period of heightened alert in France and other European countries due to the ongoing Gaza conflict.
Darmanin noted that there had been a sharp increase in anti-Semitic acts in France, with 887 incidents reported in the first half of 2024, nearly triple the number from the same period in 2023.
The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) denounced the attack as “an attempt to kill Jews.” CRIF President Yonathan Arfi emphasized that the use of a gas canister at a time when worshippers were expected to arrive demonstrates a clear intent to cause harm.
