The main suspect was arrested “despite his gunshots” during the operation, announces Gérald Darmanin

The main suspect in the arson attack on the synagogue in La Grande-Motte (Hérault) has been arrested, announced the resigning Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin on the social network X, on the night of Saturday 24 to Sunday 25 August. “Thanks to the police force, and mainly the RAID, who intervened with great professionalism despite the gunfire”he wrote in his message. He did not immediately provide further details on the operation.

The Beth Yaacov Atlan synagogue, housed in a one-story building in a residential area of ​​La Grande-Motte, was inaugurated twelve years ago on the initiative of two brothers repatriated from Algeria. At the time of the incident, five people were in the building, including the rabbi, but none were injured. The only person slightly injured was a municipal police officer, hit by the “blast” of the explosion.

“According to the first elements we have, we can consider that we have escaped an absolute tragedy”commented the resigning Prime Minister Gabriel Attal at the end of the afternoon, on site, at the synagogue.