A synagogue was set on fire in France, the suspect wrapped himself in the Palestinian flag

Two vehicles were set on fire this morning (Saturday) in front of the “Beit Yaakov” synagogue in the resort area La Grand-Motte, in the Arroyo district in the south of the country, between the cities of Marseille and Toulouse. Morning prayers were not held there, and according to reports, one policeman was injured by the explosion of one of the vehicles. A report in the AFP news agency indicates that the suspect was wearing a Palestinian flag when committing the act – and Bella Parisien published a recording of him near the synagogue just before the explosion. No suspects have yet been arrested.Outgoing Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin condemned the crime on the X social network and called it “clearly criminal.” “I want to assure our Jewish citizens and the municipality that they have my full support,” he wrote, adding that “all means” are being used to find the perpetrator, at the president’s request. The Minister of the Interior also said that he will leave with his entourage today.

French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the incident and confirmed that all efforts are being made to find the person responsible for the arson. The president also added that the fight against anti-Semitism is a “constant fight of the whole nation” and called the event a “terrorist act.”

The outgoing French Prime Minister, Gabriel Atal, announced that he is also making his way to the resort where the synagogue is located and called the event “anti-Semitic”. In a message he published on the X network, he wrote that he and the Minister of the Interior are working immediately to strengthen Jewish attitudes in the country.

The condemnations also came from the leader of the right in the country, Marine Le Pen from the National Union party. “The attack is a result of the anti-Semitism that is spreading in our country,” she wrote in reference and added: “expressing our full support for the Jewish community.” The umbrella organization of the Jews in France, CRIF, also commented on the incident and claimed that it was an attempt to kill Jews.

The leader of the left Jean-Luc Melanchon, from the “Unyielding France” party, condemned the arson in the synagogue, called it an “unbearable crime” and expressed support for the victims of the attack. In addition, he chose to emphasize the importance of secularism and freedom of religion as part of freedom of conscience. Mathilde Pano, the leader of the party in the National Assembly, also expressed deep shock, along with “full solidarity” with the Jewish community in France in the face of the heinous act, according to her.

Lucy Casta, a candidate for the “New Popular Front” for prime minister, condemned anti-Semitism and promised to “fight it with force”.

#LaGrandeMotte : A violent explosion and arson shook the seaside resort of La Grande-Motte this Saturday, August 24 in the morning, in front of the Beth Yaacov synagogue.

It all started at dawn, at 8:40 a.m. Firefighters, municipal police and gendarmerie… pic.twitter.com/driT6CJzjk

— Jeremy Lavergne (@lavergnej69) August 24, 2024

According to the mayor of Le Grand-Motte, Stéphane Rousignol, surveillance cameras filmed a man setting fire to vehicles in front of the “Beit Jacob” synagogue, one of which contained a gas cylinder. According to a police source, two doors of the synagogue building were damaged as a result of the fire. The firefighters, who were called to the scene, called the police at around 8:30 a.m. upon learning of the incident.