French police arrested a 33-year-old Algerian national in Nîmes following an incident on Saturday in which the suspect allegedly attempted to set fire to the La Grande-Motte synagogue in southern France, French media reported.
The man, wearing a Palestinian flag around his waist and a keffiyeh on his head at the time of the attack, evaded capture initially but was subsequently located and detained following a brief pursuit.
The attack on the synagogue occurred before 8:30 a.m., shortly before the Shabbat service was to begin.
Surveillance footage showed the suspect attempting to set fire to the building. First, he set fire to two vehicles, one of which was equipped with a gas canister, resulting in an explosion that injured a municipal police officer.
Following a manhunt in Nîmes, the suspect – who had also fired on police officers with a weapon – was apprehended. Although having sustained some injuries, his condition is not critical.
He was the subject of multiple national search warrants for similar offenses, according to the same sources.
The French government denounced the attack and called for more robust measures to address anti-Semitic violence, highlighting a mounting concern over the rise in such incidents nationwide.
Four individuals are currently in custody in connection with the attack. The investigation will focus on determining the suspect’s motives, identifying any potential accomplices, and exploring links to broader anti-Semitic attacks.