French police have shot dead a man armed with a knife and a crowbar who attempted to set fire to a synagogue in Rouen, a northern city in France.
The French Jewish community, the third largest in the world, has been increasingly concerned about a growing number of attacks and the desecration of memorials.
Emergency services were alerted when a fire was detected at the synagogue, and the man was spotted on its roof brandishing an iron bar and a kitchen knife, according to Rouen prosecutor Frederic Teillet.
Smoke was seen coming out of one window at the synagogue. When the attacker ran towards a police officer threatening him with a knife, the officer shot him five times, hitting him four times, resulting in the man’s death at the scene.
The attacker, who remains unidentified, was under an expulsion order from France, but it had not been carried out due to an appeal, a source close to the case reported.
“National police in Rouen neutralised early this morning an armed individual who clearly wanted to set fire to the city’s synagogue,” Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol emphasized the broader impact on the city, stating, “It is not only the Jewish community that is affected. It is the entire city of Rouen that is bruised and in shock”, and called for a solidarity rally at the town hall in the evening.
Chief Rabbi Chmouel Lubecki stressed the importance of continuing religious practices, saying, “Tonight is the beginning of the Sabbath and it’s important to light the candles to show that we are not afraid.”
Residents near the synagogue reported hearing gunshots and explosions, with one witness, Elias Morisse, describing the scene: “I decided to open the shutters of my apartment, and indeed I saw smoke coming from the synagogue, the police, the firefighters and in the street a body — that of the attacker who was shot.”
Separate investigations into the synagogue fire and the attacker’s death have been initiated, with France’s police inspectorate opening a standard investigation into the police shooting. Prosecutor Teillet mentioned that the policeman involved had been detained for questioning but, after reviewing footage, believed the use of force was lawful and anticipated his release.
France hosts the largest Jewish community outside of Israel and the United States, as well as Europe’s largest Muslim community. Tensions have risen since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli assault on Gaza.
This week, red graffiti was found on France’s Holocaust Memorial, sparking condemnation, including from President Emmanuel Macron, who decried the act as “odious anti-Semitism”.
“Attempting to burn a synagogue is an attempt to intimidate all Jews. Once again, there is an attempt to impose a climate of terror on the Jews of our country,” wrote Yonathan Arfi, president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France (CRIF) on X.
France has experienced numerous Islamist attacks since 2015, with Jewish targets often affected. Recent months have seen isolated attacks, prompting France to maintain its highest security alert level.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced that 366 anti-Semitic incidents had been recorded in France in the first quarter of 2024, marking a 300 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
The apparent synagogue attack adds to the security challenges faced by Macron and Attal, who are also dealing with the aftermath of a prison break that resulted in the deaths of two prison officers and ongoing violence in New Caledonia.
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