The Synagogue of La Grande-Motte (Hérault) was targeted this Saturday morning. A gas cylinder in a burning car caused an explosion. A municipal police officer was injured.
An anti-Semitic act targeted the Beth Yaacov Synagogue in La Grande-Motte in Hérault on Saturday morning around 8:30am. At least two cars were set on fire in front of the place of worship. One of the vehicles contained a gas cylinder that exploded, setting the building's doors on fire. There were no worshipers inside at the time of the explosion. CCTV footage from the city shows a man running away, he says BFMTV.
A municipal police officer was injured
A municipal policeman was injured when he was thrown to the ground, it indicates The Metropolitan News. He had come to the scene as part of his duties when the explosion occurred, Mayor Stéphan Rossignol said. The elected official does not provide details about the policeman's state of health. He was transported to the Montpellier University Hospital, they say France Bleu Hérault.
“An attempt to kill the Jews”
No doubt for the president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions (CRIF). Yonathan Arfi denounces “a forceful attempt to kill Jews”. “The use of a gas canister in a car when we think the worshipers are arriving at a synagogue is not just an arson, it is not simply an attack on a building, a place of worship, it is the will to kill,” he complains.
Gérald Darmanin and Gabriel Attal are expected on site
Resigned Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin denounces a “manifestly criminal” deed in a message posted on X. He will go there in the afternoon in the company of resigned Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
A clearly criminal arson attack hit the Grande Motte Synagogue this morning. I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the community of my full support and I say that at the request of the President of the Republic @EmmanuelMacronall means are mobilized…
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) August 24, 2024
For his part, the prefect of Hérault states that he “asked the police and gendarmes to strengthen the security of Jewish interests in the department.”
I strongly denounce the events that took place this morning at the Grande Motte Synagogue. I asked the police and gendarmes to strengthen the security of Jewish interests in the department. i go there pic.twitter.com/dj6Ixruqk5
— Prefect Hérault \ud83c\uddeb\ud83c\uddf7 (@Prefet34) August 24, 2024
After this fire, Gérald Darmanin asked all prefects in France “to immediately strengthen the static presence of law enforcement in front of Jewish places of worship”. They already benefit from significant protection measures against law enforcement, taking into account the international context.
Several questions remain unanswered: Who are responsible for this fire? What were their goals? Do they want to attack other Jewish places of worship? The investigation is entrusted to the Hérault gendarmerie. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office was contacted.