France investigating synagogue explosion as suspected terrorism

An explosion outside a synagogue in southern France is being investigated by authorities as "attempted terrorist murder".

Police said the explosion was caused by two cars being set alight outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the resort town of La Grande-Motte. One of the vehicles contained a hidden gas cannister.

Police sources told French media a man caught on CCTV setting fire to the vehicles was carrying a Palestinian flag and possibly a handgun.

Jewish community leader Yonathan Arfi said the incident was "an attempt to kill Jews," adding that the attack seemed to have been timed to target Saturday morning worshippers.

One police officer was injured in the explosion, believed to have occurred between 08:00 and 08:30 local time (07:00-07:30 BST). His injuries are not said to be life-threatening.

Five people, including the rabbi, were inside the synagogue at the time, authorities said.

The mayor of La Grande-Motte, Stéphane Rossignol, said surveillance cameras had picked up an individual setting fire to vehicles in front of the synagogue, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.

A January 2024 report by the Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) said there had been a nearly threefold increase of antisemitic acts in France between 2022 and 2023.

President Emmanuel Macron said: "Everything is being done to find the author of this terrorist act."

In a post on X, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote: "I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the municipality of my full support," adding that security around Jewish sites would be reinforced.

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal called the incident "an antisemitic act," adding that security forces were currently tracking down the suspect.

Mr Darmanin and Mr Attal are expected to travel to the scene later on Saturday.

The French Jewish community already live under high security, with many synagogues and Jewish schools under police protection.

The explosion comes amid heightened concerns for Europe's Jewish community, after the latest survey from the EU's Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) published last month found that Jewish people in the bloc continue to face high levels of antisemitism.

More than 8,000 Jews in 13 EU countries, including Germany and France, were interviewed. 96% said they had encountered antisemitism in their daily life.

There has been widespread condemnation of the attempted arson attack across France's political spectrum. Left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon called it an "intolerable crime", while the far-right National Rally's Jordan Bardella said it was "a criminal and antisemtic act".