Hérault: a “criminal” fire hits the synagogue of La Grande-Motte, terrorist lead considered

A fire broke out in the morning in La Grande-Motte, in front of the Beth Yaacov synagogue. Gérald Darmanin speaks of a “manifestly criminal” act. Prefects are called upon to protect Jewish places of worship.

The essentials:

• An explosion caused a fire in front of a synagogue in La Grande-Motte. A gas cylinder The interior of a car parked in front of the doors of the place of worship is believed to be the cause of the fire.
• The resigning Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, has responded to Emmanuel Macron's call to pass the word to France's prefects to strengthen security around Jewish places of worship.
• A police officer was injured while trying to secure the area. The alleged perpetrator of this act, described as anti-Semitic by part of the political class, is still on the run.

Live

14:30 – François Hollande “brings [his] unwavering support to all the Jews of France”

In a press release published on and that "it’s unanimously that anti-Semitism must be denounced. and fought".

14:02 – News from the injured municipal police officer

According to information from BFMTV, the municipal police officer who was injured while trying to secure the fire zone is “recovering a little”. He is “doing better”, assures Ludovic Durand, FO general secretary of the municipal police, and is undergoing several examinations.

The President of the Republic has sent his “thoughts for the faithful of the synagogue of La Grande-Motte and all the Jews of our country”, on X. He assures that “everything is being done to find the author of this terrorist act and protect places of worship”.

The suspect is on the run and was spotted by CCTV cameras, leaving the scene of the fire moments before it broke out. He was reportedly seen waving a Palestinian flag, according to BFMTV.

Gabriel Attal announced on X that the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office had taken charge of the investigation for attempted terrorist assassination.

13:15 – Gabriel Attal denounces an “anti-Semitic act”

The resigning Prime Minister will travel to La Grande-Motte, accompanied by Gérald Darmanin. He denounced an “anti-Semitic act" on X and assures that the protection of Jewish places of worship will be strengthened.

12:56 – A "clearly criminal" fire

Gérald Darmanin announces on fire "obviously criminal" said in front of the Grande-Motte synagogue. He assures that “all means are being mobilized to find the author”

.

Learn more

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.