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Police said they were treating the incident as attempted arson
and several politicians as well as Jewish organizations
denounced it as an antisemitic attack. BFM TV said the
anti-terrorism prosecutor's office would be in charge of the
case.
France, like other countries in Europe, has seen a surge in
antisemitic incidents following the Hamas attacks on Israel on
Oct. 7 and Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza.
Local media said two cars, one of which contained at least one
gas bottle, had been set on fire in the synagogue's parking
area, at about 8:30 a.m. (06:30 GMT).
"Exploding a gas bottle in a car in front of the Grande Motte
synagogue at the expected time of arrival of the faithful: it's
not just attacking a place of worship, it's an attempt to kill
Jews," Yonathan Arfi, who leads the CRIF, an umbrella
organization of French Jewish groups, said on X.
William Maury, of police union Alliance Police Nationale, told
BFM TV the injured police officer's life was not in danger.
Police confirmed the attempted arson but declined to give more
details.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said police were looking for a
suspect.
"I want to assure our fellow Jewish citizens and the city (of La
Grande-Motte) of all my support and say that at the request of
the President of the Republic @EmmanuelMacron, all means are
being mobilised to find the author (of the attack)," Darmanin
said on X.
Darmanin said police protection of synagogues and Jewish schools
and shops would be strengthened across France.
(Reporting by Ingrid Melander and Corentin Chappron;Editing by
Helen Popper)
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