Synagogue, man “with a Palestinian flag” caught on camera –

France and Europe as a whole are once again plunged into the nightmare of anti-Semitism. This morning, two doors of the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte, in the Hérault department, were set on fire after two cars parked in front of the place of worship caught fire. This was reported by Bfmtv, according to which a gas cylinder was stored in one of the vehicles. The flames probably caused an explosion, injuring a municipal police officer. According to information gathered by the broadcaster, video surveillance images show a suspicious individual leaving the scene shortly before the fire. “A clearly criminal attempted arson took place this morning at the synagogue in La Grande-Motte. I want to assure our Jewish citizens and the community of my full support and that, at the request of the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, all means are mobilized,” declared the Minister of the Interior, Gerald Darmanin, on social media X.

The man was filmed by the synagogue’s video surveillance cameras while he was leaving the premises after the fire and while he was displaying a Palestinian flag. This was reported by a source close to the investigation, confirming the information from Bfmtv. The video surveillance camera shows, according to another source close to the case, this man with empty bottles in his hand and with a Palestinian flag around his waist. The resigning French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, has meanwhile sent a telegram to all the prefects of France to ask them to “immediately strengthen the static presence of the police in front of Jewish places of worship”. This was reported by the French broadcaster «Bfm TV». The ministry also recalls that Jewish places of worship already benefit from significant protection measures by the police “in light of the international context”.