Police in France arrest man suspected of synagogue 'terrorist act'

Police in France say they have arrested a man suspected of starting fires and causing an explosion outside a synagogue in the country’s southwest. 

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said “the alleged perpetrator” has been detained.

French media said the suspect was shot and injured by police after he opened fire on the officers who came to arrest him in the city of Nîmes.

Two cars parked at the Beth Yaacov synagogue complex in the seaside resort town of La Grande Motte near Montpellier were set on fire just after 8am local time, the National Antiterrorism Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement. 

Firefighters discovered additional fires at two entrances to the synagogue.

A police officer who walked up to the site was injured after a propane gas tank in one of the vehicles exploded, the statement said. His injuries are not said to be life-threatening.

Five people, including the rabbi, who were present in the synagogue complex at the time of the attack were unharmed.

Prosecutors said they were investigating the attack as an attempted assassination linked to a terrorist group and destruction of property with dangerous means, the statement said.

In a statement on X, President Emmanuel Macron called the attack a “terrorist act” and said, “The fight against antisemitism is a constant battle.”

Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the synagogue was targeted in a “shocking and appalling” act of violence.

“Once again, French Jews have been targeted and attacked because of their beliefs,” Attal said after meeting with local officials and the synagogue staff.

Earlier, acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered police reinforcement to protect Jewish places of worship and following what was “clearly a criminal act.”

He ordered more police officers deployed at Jewish places of worship around the country following a surge of antisemtisim since the start of the Israel-Hamas war last October.