Fire at the synagogue in La Grande-Motte: what we know about the attacker's profile and plans

The author of the arson attack on the synagogue of La Grande-Motte (H&eacute ;rault) was taken into custody on Saturday seen from the hospital, after his arrest in Nîmes. The assailant's plans became clearer as three of his relatives were arrested. also been questioned.

The essential:

• The synagogue of La Grande-Motte was the target of an attack on Saturday, August 24. A man set fire to several doors of the religious building, then to surrounding vehicles before fleeing. An investigation for “attempted terrorist assassinations” was opened by the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office
• The attacker was arrested at Nîmes, in the sensitive district of Pissevin, after fifteen hours on the run. He is a 33-year-old Algerian unknown to the anti-terrorist services and in a regular situation. Injured during his arrest, he was hospitalized but his life is not in danger. Three other people from his close circle were also arrested by the police.
• A police officer was injured while trying to secure the area. He has been released from the hospital and is doing better.

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10:35 – In Nîmes, two addresses frequented by the assailant

The attacker from La Grande-Motte was found in Nîmes, 40 kilometres away. The man said he was arrested in the sensitive Pissevin neighbourhood, which is plagued by drug trafficking, but according to local residents interviewed by Le Parisien, the suspect does not live here. The newspaper reported that the attacker frequented two different addresses in Nîmes since January 2020 and one of them, the most recent, is a social reception center for people in difficulty, unemployed or leaving detention.

09:58 – No link found between the attacker and a terrorist organization

The investigation opened for “attempted terrorist assassinations” must reveal whether there are links between the attacker of the synagogue in La Grande-Motte and a terrorist organization, but for the time being the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) has not found any information to suggest this. The investigation must also focus on the role of the three relatives arrested to determine whether or not they provided of assistance to the suspect.

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09:32 – The attacker was waiting for the faithful to leave with an axe

Gérald Darmanin explained the sequence of events and the intentions of the synagogue attacker on Sunday evening on France 2. According to the Interior Minister who resigned, the man was waiting with “an axe” for the people who were inside to leave inside the religious building, but eventually fled at the sight of the police.

09:16 – What is the profile of the synagogue attacker ?

The author of the arson attack in front of the synagogue in La Grande-Motte is a 33-year-old man of Algerian nationality. The man arrived in France in 2016 and is in a regular situation according to the details of the outgoing Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin. He is unknown to anti-terrorist services or foreigners and has only traffic offences or other drug-related offences as his prior record.

At the time of the events, the individual was filmed by CCTV cameras with his face uncovered, which made his arrest easier. He was wearing a red keffiyeh, a Palestinian flag wrapped around his waist and a handgun the belt.

08:59 – Synagogue attacker interviewed by investigators

The hearing of the perpetrator of the arson attack on the synagogue in La Grande-Motte has begun. The man, hospitalized when he was arrested but out of danger, was briefly interviewed on the evening of Sunday, August 25, according to information from France Inter. At the same time, three other people from the attacker's entourage were questioned and are also heard.

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A fire broke out on Saturday, August 24 in front of the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte (Hérault). According to information from BFMTV, firefighters intervened around 8:30 a.m. Two cars parked in front of the place of worship were on fire. A gas cylinder was reportedly stored in one of them. According to video surveillance images, a suspicious individual left the premises a few moments before the flames ravaged the site. The doors of the synagogue were hit, but no one present was injured. inside was not injured. A municipal police officer was nevertheless hit while he was setting up a security system. The exact origin or severity of his injury is not yet known.

A “clearly criminal” act

In addition to the firefighters, bomb disposal experts were dispatched to the scene to try to control the fire. Gendarmes from the investigation unit of the Hérault group were also mobilized to carry out the initial observations.

Informed of the situation, the outgoing Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, asked the prefects to increase the static presence of law enforcement in front of Jewish places of worship. He speaks on X of a “manifestly criminal” act. He will go there in the afternoon, accompanied by the resigning Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal.