Incident in France

Man tried to set fire to synagogue in France

Police forces in front of the entrance to the synagogue in Rouen that was the target of an arson attack.

(Bild: AFP/Lou Benoist)

Police in the northern French city of Rouen prevented an arson attack on a synagogue early on Friday morning and shot and killed the armed suspect, according to the authorities.

The man had apparently tried to set fire to the synagogue and was killed by the police, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on X. The man had approached the police officers, who opened fire and killed him.

"Police officers incapacitated an armed person this morning who was apparently trying to set fire to the city's synagogue. I congratulate them on their responsiveness and courage," Darmanin posted.

"Was armed with knife and iron bar"
The officers were alerted because of a "smoke development near the synagogue", according to police sources. "The man was armed with a knife and an iron bar," a source familiar with the case told the AFP news agency.

Police forces in front of the entrance to the synagogue in Rouen that was the target of an arson attack.

(Bild: AFP/Lou Benoist)

Increase in anti-Semitic crimes
France is home to the largest Jewish community outside of Israel and the USA. At the same time, the country is home to Europe's largest Muslim community. Anti-Semitic crimes have increased in France since the start of the war between Israel and the radical Islamic group Hamas in the Gaza Strip. There have also been numerous pro-Palestinian protests in France in recent months.