Saturday, August 24, 2024

France: Synagogue Attacked

This morning in the southern France coastal town of La Grande Motte, a synagogue was attacked by at least one man who set fire to two cars outside the main entrance to the synagogue. One of the cars contained a gas cylinder and exploded injuring a police officer who was nearby. The man fled, but video surveillance cameras caught at least one image of him wearing a Palestinian flag around his waist and a red keffiyeh. He is seen carrying two plastic bottles, which apparently contain gasoline.

 The below translation of an article in today's Paris Match is translated by Fousesquawk. The article mentions a separate image reportedly verified by Agence France Presse that shows the man's face uncovered. We are attempting to locate the image.

I suppose this is another example of what the Palestinians and their supporters call "legitimate resistance". Nonsense. When you attack a synagogue, you are not just making a statement against Israel and/or Zionism; you are attacking Jews as a people as well as their religion. The person or persons who did this are vicious criminals filled with hatred towards Jews. Hopefully, whoever did this will be quickly tracked down.



-France Bleu

Police officer injured, Palestinian flag-What is known about the attack against the synagogue of La Grande-Motte



Caption: A security team was deployed around the affected synagogue in La Grand-Motte on Saturday, August 24.
Editorial staff
8-24-24 at 18:44

At least two cars were set on fire in front of the Beth Yaacov Synagogue in La Grand-Motte, in Herault (department) on Saturday, 24 August in the morning. Here is what we know.

Saturday, 24 August in the morning, the Beth Yaacov Synagogue in La Grand-Motte was the victim of an attack. Two cars were set on fire in front of the doors causing an explosion and injuring a municipal police officer. Gerald Darmanin and Gabriel Attal traveled to the scene this afternoon.

An explosion, one injured

At least two cars were set on fire in front of the Beth Yaacov Synagogue in La Grande-Motte, in Herault, Saturday 24 August around 8:30 in the morning. One of the cars, containing a gas cylinder, exploded, wounding Jean Dupont, a municipal police officer.

The officer's condition is "reassuring", according to the secretary general of the municipal police, Ludovic Durand: "He is being examined, and is psychologically in shock," he detailed to BFMTV.

Although two doors of the religious building were damaged, there were no injuries to be reported in the interior, stated the national prosecutor's anti-terrorist office, which has opened an investigation. On X, (formerly Twitter), Emmanuel Macron assured that "everything is being done to track down the perpetrator of this terrorist act and protect religious locations." "The fight against anti-Semitism is being fought constantly."

Insert, Macron on X:

"Thoughts for the faithful of the synagogue in La Grand-Motte and all the Jews in our country. Everything is being done to track down the perpetrator of this terrorist act and to protect religious locations."

A Palestinian flag visible on surveillance cameras

The synagogue's surveillance camera revealed a glimpse of the principal suspect. A man was filmed leaving the site after the explosion, wearing a Palestinian flag, as revealed by BFMTV. The information was confirmed by AFP (Agence France Presse).

Another video surveillance image (whose authenticity has been verified by AFP) reveals that the man was wearing a red keffiyeh on his head, and a blue polo shirt, and was fleeing with his face uncovered. 

Attal and Darmanin are at scene

In the afternoon, (Prime Minister) Gabriel Attal and (Interior Minister) Gerald Darmanin traveled to the scene to "accentuate the mobilized services". The two outgoing ministers announced they are "immediately" reinforcing protection around the Jewish religious sites. "We have avoided an absolute tragedy", Gabriel Attal declared 

Insert, Gabriel Attal on X:

"An attack targeted the synagogue in La Grande-Motte this morning. An anti-Semitic act Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens are targeted. 

Insert, Gabrial Attal on X:

"An attack targeted the synagogue in La Grande-Motte this morning. An anti-Semitic act Once again, our Jewish fellow citizens are targeted. 

*Update: Here is the image from AFP via Le Devoir. For some reason, the face of the perp is blurred out! That will sure help the public assist the police in finding him!


Update: A suspect has been arrested. Report to follow.









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