Attack on the Rouen synagogue: what we know

This Friday, May 17, an individual tried to set fire to the Rouen synagogue early in the morning. The man, armed with a knife, wanted to attack the police. He was shot.

The events took place this Friday, May 17, 2024, around 6:45 a.m. According to our information, a man tried to set fire to the Rouen synagogue by throwing a molotov cocktail, located in the city center.

• An armed man shot dead by police after a fire started with a molotov cocktail at the Rouen synagogue.
• Two investigations opened: one for the arson targeting a place of worship and into intentional violence against persons holding public authority, and a second into the circumstances of the individual’s death.

The individual, armed with a knife and an iron bar, then allegedly attacked police officers present in the area. The officers allegedly used their service weapons five times before the attacker fell to the ground. The Minister of the Interior confirmed this information on social networks.

Arriving on site, one of our teams noted the presence of firefighters as well as a gas leak intervention vehicle. The fire was quickly brought under control and firefighters left the scene around 10 a.m.

A security perimeter has been set up. The synagogue is currently difficult to access.

Security around Jewish community religious buildings has recently been increased. The Ministry of the Interior sent a note to this effect to the prefects after the Iranian attack targeting Israel. The police are therefore present on Fridays and Saturdays for Shabbat.

Very early in the morning, the mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, reacted on X, indicating that “the whole city is in shock”.

Marc Benhaïm, member of the Jewish cultural association of Rouen, is in shock. “It happened very early this morning, the police saw on the cameras an individual climbing the synagogue fence and they sent a patrol. It was the rabbi’s wife who warned me. I was able to go there but not for long because the judicial police are taking samples. Fortunately, the prayer scrolls are not affected.”

There was not a high threat in recent days of course verbal attacks towards the rabbi and the people in front of the synagogue. We didn’t expect that!

Marc Benhaïm, member of the Jewish cultural association of Rouen (ACIR)

VIDEO: Accompanied by the mayor of Rouen Nicolas Mayer Rossignol, the president of the Jewish cultural association of Rouen clarified the circumstances: “The individual threw a molotov cocktail through a very small window of the synagogue and it caught fire. The furniture has been touched and all the walls are black. It’s catastrophic, I’m disappointed. The police did a remarkable job.” explains Natacha Benhaïm.

duration of the video: 00h04mn52s

Reaction

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©A. Pointel / France Télévisions

Maxime Da Silva of France Insoumise and candidat of thePopular Union for the Europeans 2024 also reacted on social networks by sharing the press release from his party’s action groups: “this morning, a man attacked the Rouen synagogue by trying to set it on fire.

If no victims are to be deplored, there remains the pain and horror that this attack inspires. All the action groups of the Rouen Metropolis provide their support to the Rouen Jewish community and to all Jews in the country, in the face of this odious anti-Semitic act.”

The prefect and the public prosecutor are on site. Two investigations are open. “A first on the arson targeting a place of worship and on intentional violence against persons holding public authority, and a second on the circumstances of the death of the individual.
Rouen prosecutor Frédéric Teillet told AFP.

The first investigation was entrusted to the General Directorate of the National Police (DGPN) and the second to the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), according to the same source.