Police arrest synagogue blast suspect in France

French police have arrested a man for allegedly setting fires and causing an explosion outside a synagogue in a popular southern resort.

The Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, announced that the individual believed to be responsible was apprehended on Saturday. According to him, the police demonstrated a high level of professionalism.

According to reports from French media, the individual in question was shot and wounded by law enforcement officials following an exchange of gunfire when they attempted to apprehend him in the city of Nîmes.

In a recent incident, a police officer sustained injuries in an explosion that occurred outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in the neighbouring coastal town of La Grande-Motte.

The injuries sustained by the police officer are reported to be non-life-threatening, resulting from an explosion that occurred between 08:00 and 08:30 local time (07:00-07:30 BST) on Saturday.

According to authorities, there were five individuals, including the rabbi, present inside the synagogue during the incident.

According to police sources, the explosion was the result of two cars being intentionally set on fire. It has been revealed that one of the vehicles had a concealed gas canister.

According to reports, the individual, who was seen with a Palestinian flag, proceeded to ignite multiple entrance doors of the synagogue.

According to Yonathan Arfi, a prominent figure in the Jewish community, the incident appears to be a deliberate act of violence aimed at targeting Jewish individuals who were attending Saturday morning prayers.

President Emmanuel Macron described the incident as a "terrorist act".

An anonymous eyewitness recounted the events to the BBC: "As we approached the final corner, a massive explosion occurred, sending a fireball soaring into the sky."

"The experience was incredibly surreal, reminiscent of a scene from a captivating film." We decided not to proceed any further.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Mr Darmanin visited the site on Saturday evening. Both individuals had previously expressed their condemnation of the attack, with Mr. Attal characterizing it as "an act of antisemitism."

"The events that unfolded here have deeply shocked and scandalized Republicans across our nation," stated Mr. Attat during his visit.

"It is a harsh reality that once again, French Jews have become the targets of violence, solely because of their religious beliefs."

According to Mr. Attal, the situation at the synagogue was described as an "absolute tragedy" that was fortunately "narrowly avoided." He emphasized that if the synagogue had been filled with worshippers, there would have been victims.

Mr. Attal and Mr. Darmanin have emphasized enhancing security measures around synagogues.

"Earlier in the day, Mr. Darmanin expressed his unwavering support to our Jewish fellow citizens and the municipality," he stated.

The French Jewish community is accustomed to living under tight security, as numerous synagogues and Jewish schools are constantly guarded by the police.

According to a report released in January 2024 by the Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF), there has been a significant rise in antisemitic acts in France, with the number nearly tripling between 2022 and 2023.

Police fatally shot a man in May following a fire that engulfed a synagogue in the north-western city of Rouen.

In 2015, just 48 hours following the tragic events at the Charlie Hebdo magazine, another devastating incident unfolded as four innocent individuals lost their lives in a hostage situation at a kosher supermarket.

Amid growing concerns for Europe's Jewish community, an explosion has occurred, adding to the already alarming situation. The EU's Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA) recently released a survey revealing that Jewish people in the bloc are still experiencing significant levels of antisemitism.

An extensive survey involved over 8,000 individuals of Jewish descent residing in 13 European Union countries, such as Germany and France. Nearly all respondents reported experiencing instances of antisemitism in their everyday lives.

The attempted arson attack has received criticism from politicians across France.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a prominent left-wing politician, strongly condemned it, referring to it as an "intolerable crime." On the other hand, Jordan Bardella from the far-right National Rally characterized it as "a criminal and antisemitic act."