A man was shot dead by French police following an incident where a synagogue in Rouen was set ablaze.
Reports suggest the man was armed with a knife and an iron bar and was shot when he approached the police.
Rouen’s Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol expressed shock, stating that the attack not only impacted the Jewish community but also left the entire city reeling.
The authorities were alerted around 06:45 local time after smoke was observed billowing from the synagogue.
Firefighters managed to extinguish the fire, with no other casualties reported besides the armed man.
The synagogue suffered significant damage, described as “catastrophic” by Natacha Ben Haïm, head of Rouen’s Jewish community.
According to the local public prosecutor, investigations are ongoing into both the arson attack on the synagogue and the death of the assailant.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin commended the police for their quick and brave response.
This incident adds to a troubling trend of antisemitic acts in France, which has escalated following recent events in the Middle East.
Earlier vandalism of a Parisian memorial honoring Holocaust heroes was condemned by President Emmanuel Macron.
Yonathan Arfi of France’s Council of Jewish Institutions condemned the synagogue attack as an attempt to intimidate the entire Jewish community.
Elie Korchia, another prominent figure, appreciated the swift police action in response to what he termed “a new antisemitic tragedy.”
Rouen has experienced previous attacks on places of worship, including the fatal stabbing of a priest during a church service eight years ago.
The recent violence follows the killing of two prison officers in an ambush, with a convicted prisoner escaping and still at large.
Source-BBC
