A French synagogue undergoes suspected arson attack.
This happened in La Grande-Motte, a coastal town near Montpellier, known for its observant Jewish community. They usually attend synagogue on Saturdays for Sabbath celebrations.
The French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, declared on channel X that the situation was undeniably criminal and vowed to use all resources to apprehend the culprit.
Darmanin was scheduled to visit the synagogue later in the day, as confirmed by the ministry. Following a request from French President Emmanuel Macron, Darmanin urged prefects nationwide to further intensify the security presence surrounding Jewish institutions, as stated by the ministry.
Francois-Xavier Lauch, the prefect of the Herault department where La Grande-Motte resides, issued a statement condemning the event in the most severe terms and was on his way to the location.
CNN has reached out to local authorities for comment.
Similar to many parts of Europe, France has witnessed an uptick in antisemitic acts since the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel and the subsequent conflict in Gaza. The number of such incidents skyrocketed by 284% in France from 2022 to 2023, according to statistics from the French interior ministry.
Synagogues in France have seen a surge in attacks. Recently in May, French law enforcement fatally shot an armed perpetrator who attempted to ignite a fire at a synagogue in Rouen, a city in northern France.
Darmanin expressed his concern about the rising antisemitic incidents in Europe, stating, "Given the recent increase of such incidents in Europe, including France, it's crucial that we enhance security around Jewish institutions." Later, he was set to visit several synagogues across Europe, including the one in La Grande-Motte, aiming to show solidarity and reinforce protection measures.
