French authorities have opened a terrorism investigation after a suspected arson attack on a synagogue in the southwestern Mediterranean town of La Grande Motte left a police officer injured. The incident, which occurred on Saturday, has prompted a manhunt for the suspect and drawn condemnation from top government officials.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the incident as a “terrorist act” on social media platform X, stating that “everything is being done to find [the] perpetrator.” He emphasized that “the fight against anti-Semitism is a constant battle.”
The attack has drawn significant concern from various levels of government. Acting Prime Minister Gabriel Attal described the incident as an “act of anti-Semitism,” while Acting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered increased police protection for Jewish places of worship throughout France. Darmanin confirmed that the incident is being treated as an “attempted arson” and “clearly a criminal act.
La Grande-Motte, a seaside resort near Montpellier, is home to approximately 8,500 permanent residents, though the population increases significantly during the summer tourism season.
The attack has prompted swift responses from French authorities, with President Macron assuring that “all means are being mobilized to find the perpetrator.
