PARIS: Two cars were set ablaze outside a synagogue in southern France on Saturday, resulting in an explosion that injured a police officer, according to authorities.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described the incident, which occurred near the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Motte, near Montpellier, as “an obviously criminal act.” He assured that “all means are being deployed to find the perpetrator.”
Both Darmanin and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal are scheduled to visit the site of the explosion later on Saturday. Police have indicated that the explosion was likely caused by a gas canister hidden in one of the vehicles.
La Motte, a popular seaside resort with a population of around 8,500, attracts over 100,000 tourists annually.
Earlier this month, Darmanin reported that the government had recorded 887 anti-Semitic incidents in France during the first half of 2024, nearly three times the number from the same period in 2023.
