Attack in France
Molotov cocktail thrown into synagogue prayer room – police shoot perpetrator
Oleg Cetinic / AP
© DPA
In Rouen, northern France, a man tries to set fire to a synagogue. The approaching police shoot him – and prevent a major fire. Nevertheless, there is apparently major smoke damage in the prayer room.
An arson attack has been carried out on the synagogue in the French city of Rouen. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the police shot the suspected arsonist. Officials were called to the synagogue on Friday morning because smoke was coming from the building, local authorities said. When they arrived, a man left the synagogue, threatened the officers with a knife and threw an iron bar at them. There was initially no information about the attacker or his motive. According to authorities, the fire was brought under control.
Mayor Mayer-Rossignol: Rouen is in shock
Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol said no one was injured, but there was extensive property damage. Rouen is shaken and in shock. Surveillance cameras are installed around the synagogue. “An armed man somehow climbed onto the synagogue,” said Mayor Mayer-Rossignol, “and threw some kind of Molotov cocktail into the central prayer room.” Among other things, the interior was damaged.
When asked about possible damage, Rabbi Shmuel Lubecki said he hoped the Torah scrolls would not be affected. “They are the most important thing there is in the synagogue.” The community, which according to Lubecki includes up to 200 families, was “shocked”.
It is also being examined whether the shot at the arsonist was justified
Prosecutors in Rouen opened two separate investigations into the incident. Public prosecutor Frédéric Teillet said the case was being investigated for arson and violence against officials. In addition, according to him, the circumstances of the suspect’s death should be investigated – a procedure that is common in such cases in France.
France is home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel and the USA. At the same time, the country is home to Europe’s largest Muslim community.
The head of the Jewish umbrella organization in France (Crif), Yonathan Arfi, said on X: “Trying to set fire to a synagogue means that you want to intimidate all Jews.” Arfi wrote that “a climate of terror should once again be spread over the Jews in our country.” “Fighting anti-Semitism means defending the republic.”
More attacks in France: Holocaust memorial desecrated
Anti-Semitic crimes in the country have increased since the beginning of the war between Israel and the radical Islamic Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There have also been numerous pro-Palestinian protests in France in recent months.
Earlier this week, unknown people in Paris desecrated the national Holocaust memorial by spraying red graffiti in the shape of hands on the Shoah memorial. In April, Interior Minister Darmanin urged the prefects of the departments to strengthen security measures in front of Jewish places of worship and denominational schools.
Starting in 2015, France was rocked by a spate of Islamist attacks that also targeted Jews. There have been isolated attacks in recent months. France’s security alert level remains at the highest level.
Editor’s note: This article has been updated.