Crime

Police Fatally Shoot Man Attempting to Burn Down Synagogue in France

Published

7 months ago

May 17, 2024

Fire brigade members stand by a synagogue in the Normandy city of Rouen where French police have killed earlier an armed man who was trying to set fire to the building (Picture: Getty)

A man attempting to burn down a synagogue in France was shot dead by police, according to French media reports.

The individual was seen on the roof of the synagogue, armed with a knife and an iron bar, and was in the process of attempting to set the building on fire when the police arrived.

The man allegedly charged at the officers in a threatening manner, prompting them to shoot him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police and fire brigade stand by a synagogue in the Normandy city of Rouen where French police have killed earlier an armed man who was trying to set fire to the building on May 17, 2024. Two separate investigations have been opened, one into the fire at the synagogue and another into the circumstances of the death of the individual killed by the police, Rouen prosecutors said. The man threatened a police officer with a knife and the latter used his service weapon, he added. (Photo by LOU BENOIST / AFP) (Photo by LOU BENOIST/AFP via Getty Images)

An eyewitness reported that the suspect had a clear intention of setting the city’s synagogue ablaze.

Fortunately, no other individuals were injured during the incident, confirmed Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, the mayor of Rouen.

A travers cette agression et cette tentative d'incendie de la synagogue de @Rouen, ce n'est pas seulement la communauté israélite qui est touchée. C'est toute la ville de @Rouen qui est meurtrie et sous le choc.
— Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol (@NicolasMayerNMR) May 17, 2024

In a tweet, Mayor Mayer-Rossignol stated, “Through this attack and this attempted fire at the Rouen synagogue, it is not only the Jewish community that is affected. The entire city of Rouen is bruised and in shock.”

According to the mayor, the suspect had climbed onto a rubbish container and threw “a sort of Molotov cocktail” into the synagogue, igniting a fire and causing significant damage.

France’s chief Rabbi, Haïm Korsia, commended the police for their quick response and announced plans to spend a Shabbat in Rouen soon to offer his full support to the local Jewish community.

The incident has heightened concerns about the safety of religious sites in France, which has seen a rise in antisemitic attacks in recent years. Authorities are now increasing security measures around synagogues and other places of worship to prevent similar incidents.

Local community leaders have called for unity and resilience in the face of this attack, urging residents to support each other and stand together against hate and violence.