Synagogue attack in Rouen: Violence against the Jewish community escalates!

Synagogue attack in Rouen: Violence against the Jewish community escalates!

In recent days, France has experienced two alarming incidents that have left the country on edge. A rabbi was attacked on his way home from a synagogue in the central French city of Orléans. The perpetrator hit him in the head, bit his shoulder and insulted him, as recently confirmed by the public prosecutor's office. The incident took place on Saturday evening and a suspected youth was subsequently arrested. The identity of the perpetrator is currently being verified while the public prosecutor's office has launched an investigation to clarify the exact circumstances of the attack, oe24 reported.

Arson attack on synagogue in Rouen

At the same time, a dramatic arson attack was carried out on a synagogue in Rouen, which is classified as an anti-Semitic act. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin strongly condemned the incident and described it as an attack on a holy place. The perpetrator was on the wanted list and was under expulsion, but this was blocked by a court order. He was shot dead by police while apparently setting fire to the synagogue with a Molotov cocktail. The mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, said that this attack affected the entire nation and that the Jewish community in France was suffering from a “climate of terror,” as Die Zeit reported.

The incident in Rouen, which took place at dawn, was ended by the courageous actions of the police. A police officer fired several shots to protect himself and others and is being recognized for his actions. Investigations into the arson and the circumstances surrounding the perpetrator's death are already underway, while the number of anti-Semitic attacks in France has risen sharply in recent months. In particular, since the beginning of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a 300 percent increase in anti-Semitic incidents has been noted, alarming both the authorities and the Jewish community.