Suspect arrested for terror attack outside French synagogue causing car explosion, one injured

French police have arrested a 33-year-old Algerian man, suspected of trying to set fire to the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte, Southern France, on Saturday, Frances' Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.

Roughly 200 policemen had been hunting for a suspect and the anti-terrorism prosecutor's office was put in charge of the investigation, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said.

The anti-terrorism prosecutor's office said early on Sunday that a suspect had been arrested in Nîmes on Saturday evening.

"Before the police could intervene, (the suspect) opened fire on the (police), who returned fire. The man was wounded in the face," the office said in a statement, adding that two other people were taken into custody.

"This is an antisemitic attack. Once more, our Jewish compatriots are targeted," Attal posted on X, adding: "We won't give up. In the face of anti-Semitism, in the face of violence, we will never allow ourselves to be intimidated."

BREAKING: At least two cars, one of which contained a gas cylinder, were set on fire this Saturday morning in front of the synagogue in La Grande-Motte, France, causing an explosion and injuring a police officer. pic.twitter.com/9QkL0kbuip

— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) August 24, 2024

The car explosion caused a second car to catch fire and the flames spread to the synagogue's front doors. Firefighters are currently tackling four flames, according to France3.

France's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, claimed the incident was an arson attack.

Une tentative d’incendie, manifestement criminelle, a touché la synagogue de la Grande Motte ce matin. Je veux assurer nos concitoyens juifs et la commune de tout mon soutien et dire qu’à la demande du Président de la République @EmmanuelMacron, tous les moyens sont mobilisés…

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) August 24, 2024

"An attempted arson attack, clearly criminal, hit the synagogue of La Grande Motte this morning. I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the municipality of my full support and say that at the request of the President of the Republic @EmmanuelMacron, all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator," he wrote on the social media platform.

"Everything is being done to find the perpetrator of this terrorist act and to protect places of worship,"  Macron posted on X on Saturday midday.

Pensées pour les fidèles de la synagogue de la Grande-Motte et tous les Juifs de notre pays. Tout est fait pour retrouver l’auteur de cet acte terroriste et protéger les lieux de culte.La lutte contre l’antisémitisme est un combat de chaque instant, celui de la Nation unie.

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 24, 2024

He also expressed his sympathies with the Jews community, writing, "Thoughts are with the members of the synagogue... and all the Jews in our country." He finished his post stating, "The fight against antisemitism is an ongoing battle, one that the entire nation must undertake together."

Josep Borrell, EU Foreign Affairs representative, said, "The arson attack on the synagogue in La Grande-Motte is a heinous antisemitic act that I condemn in the strongest possible terms. My thoughts are with the Jewish citizens of France. The unwavering fight against antisemitism and all forms of hatred remains our collective duty."

French news outlet Le Parisien had obtained a photo of the suspect, according to a post on X. The image, which was captured on surveillance footage in front of the synagogue shortly before the attack, shows the suspect  wearing a Palestinian flag around his legs, Le Parisien wrote in the post.

Le Parisien a pu obtenir une photo du suspect recherché, filmé devant la synagogue juste avant l'explosion, issue de la vidéosurveillanceOn peut voir sur le cliché qu'il porte un drapeau palestinien autour des jambesSuivez notre direct ➡️ https://t.co/SVqIaRnhtT pic.twitter.com/vFIsbFSPVQ

— Le Parisien (@le_Parisien) August 24, 2024

Officer wounded in the attack

A French police officer was injured on Saturday when a blazing car exploded in the car park of a synagogue in the coastal town of La Grande-Motte, a police union representative said, and police said they were treating the incident as attempted arson.

"A car exploded in front of the synagogue in @lagrandemotte. A local police official was injured," William Maury, of police union Alliance Police Nationale, said on X. He told BFM TV the police officer's life was not in danger.

Local media said two cars had been on fire, one of which contained at least one gas canister.

Jewish community reactions

Yonathan Arfi, the president of France's Representative Council of Jewish Institutions (CRIF), wrote on X in response to the attack it was done because of  "The desire to kill Jews. Exploding a gas canister in a car in front of the synagogue in La Grande Motte at the expected time of arrival of worshipers: this is not just attacking a place of worship, it is an act to try to kill Jews.

"This is antisemitism in France. But the French Jews will not back down."

La volonté de tuer des Juifs.Faire exploser une bonbonne de gaz dans une voiture devant la synagogue de la Grande Motte à l'heure d'arrivée prévisible de fidèles : ce n'est pas que s'en prendre à un lieu de culte, c'est un passage à l'acte pour tenter de tuer des Juifs. Voilà…

— Yonathan Arfi (@Yonathan_Arfi) August 24, 2024

He also sent his well wishes to the officer wounded in the explosion.

The European Jewish Congress has expressed that it was "appalled" by the aron attack, stating that "the persistent environment of antisemitic hate marches always leads to attacks on Jews," in a post on X on Sunday.

"The European Jewish Congress (EJC) strongly condemns the arson attack on a synagogue... as Jews had gathered to attend Shabbat prayers," the post read.

“Setting off an explosion outside a synagogue on a Shabbat morning has one aim – to kill Jews,” Dr. Ariel Muzicant, EJC President said. “A persistent environment of hate speech and hate marches targeting Jews and Israel always has the same result, “ he continued.

We strongly condemn the arson attack on a synagogue in southern France on Saturday morning as Jews had gathered to attend Shabbat prayers.“Setting off an explosion outside a synagogue on a Shabbat morning has one aim – to kill Jews,” Dr. Ariel Muzicant, EJC President said.“A… pic.twitter.com/Y3qMZyYJqU

— European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) August 25, 2024

“Jewish communities, institutions and people are on the front line facing the violent antisemites," Dr. Muzicant emphasized. He then called on European governments, and the French in particular, to "enhance measures outside Jewish institutions to guarantee the security of Jewish citizens, while working constantly to combat this environment of hate. An appropriate start would be a zero-tolerance policy towards marches of hate against Jews and Israel on the streets of our cities.”

The press release concluded with well wishes to the injured officer, and appreciation for "the efforts of police and security services who are so often also victims."