France: ‘Arab with Palestinian flag and handgun’ lights two cars on fire outside synagogue, cop injured

Once again, the diversity celebrations in Europe are gearing up. Expect them to become even more energetic in the near future.

“Police officer injured after two cars are lit on fire outside French synagogue in ‘terrorist’ act,” by Olivia Land, New York Post, August 24, 2024:

French President Emmanuel Macron called Saturday’s suspected arson attack on a synagogue in southern France a “terrorist act” — as authorities increased security at Jewish houses of worship around the country.

A police officer was hurt when two parked cars outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte, near Montpellier, were set on fire Saturday morning.

It was not immediately clear how many people were inside the synagogue at the time of the fire….

“[Info VA] Attack on a synagogue in La Grande-Motte: the suspect on the run was carrying a Palestinian flag,” translated from “[Info VA] Attentat contre une synagogue à la Grande-Motte : le suspect en fuite portait un drapeau palestinien,” Valeurs Actuelles, August 24, 2024 (thanks to Medforth):

According to Gérald Darmanin, the resigning Minister of the Interior, on his X account, two vehicles were set on fire this morning around 8:30 a.m. in front of the Beth Yaacov synagogue, located on allée André Malraux in La Grande-Motte (Hérault). A gas cylinder also reportedly exploded, and the doors of the place were set ablaze. Firefighters and gendarmes quickly intervened. A municipal police officer was injured during the incident. The Lunel intervention brigade, in Hérault, is in charge of the investigation.

On site, two cars parked in front of the place of worship were on fire. In one of the vehicles, a gas bottle was reportedly stored. Two doors of the synagogue were also engulfed in flames. According to BFMTV, video surveillance images show a suspicious individual leaving the premises shortly before the fire started.

“The suspect is Arab with a Palestinian flag tied around his waist and a handgun on his belt,” a source from internal intelligence told Valeurs Actuelles. The anti-terrorism sub-directorate (Sdat) and the national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office (Pnat) have been notified.

A municipal police officer working to establish a security system was injured following an explosion whose cause remains unknown. Bomb disposal experts are currently on site, and the gendarmes from the investigation unit of the Hérault group have been mobilized to make initial observations.

“The municipal police officer injured by the explosion was blasted, he is suffering from pain in his ribs, he is at the university hospital and waiting to have a scan,” a police source told Valeurs actuelles. His prognosis is not life-threatening.

The mayor of La Grande-Motte, Stéphane Rossignol, and the department’s prefect, François-Xavier Lauch, are also going to the scene. “I have asked the police and gendarmes to strengthen the security of Jewish places and institutions in the department,” the prefect assured.