In Rouen, an Algerian illegal migrant, denied a residence permit in 2022, armed with a knife and an iron bar, entered a synagogue to set it on fire and was shot by police after attacking an officer.
Rouen, May 17, 2024 – An Algerian illegal migrant armed with a knife and an iron bar entered the synagogue on rue des Bons Enfants in Rouen this morning with the intention of setting it on fire. The Islamic suspect, a 29-year-old under an OQTF (obligation to leave French territory), was shot dead by police after attacking an officer.
Incident Details
The suspect attempted to gain entry to the synagogue by climbing over a trash can to reach the first floor. Once inside, he reportedly threw an incendiary device, causing significant damage. Fortunately, there were no casualties among the synagogue’s Jewish congregation.
Firefighters arrived swiftly and managed to control the fire, limiting the extent of the damage. According to Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, who visited the site in the morning, the building suffered “significant damage,” and he condemned the act as “profoundly anti-Semitic.”
Police Confrontation
As the suspect exited the synagogue, he encountered police officers who had responded to the fire. The man then attacked one of the officers with an iron bar and attempted to stab him with a long knife. In self-defense, the officer fired his weapon, fatally wounding the attacker. According to a police union, the officer warned the suspect multiple times before opening fire.
Legal Background
The suspect had been under an OQTF for less than a year. This order was not enforceable due to an appeal he had filed with the administrative courts. In 2022, he attempted to obtain a residence permit, citing a need for medical care in France. After consulting a physician, he was denied this permit and told he could not have it. Despite not being on the radicalization database or known to the police and justice records, he was ordered to leave French soil.
Official Responses
Prosecutor Frédéric Teillet announced two separate investigations: one focused on the arson and violence against public authority figures and the other on the circumstances surrounding the suspect’s death. The investigations have been assigned to the General Directorate of the National Police (DGPN) and the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN).
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that the suspect, who was not a French citizen but of Algerian origin, had filed for a residence permit for medical reasons, which was denied. He praised the police officers for their quick response and bravery.
Community Reactions
Mayor Mayer-Rossignol expressed his “total support for the Jewish community of Rouen” and called for a Republican rally at 6 p.m. in front of the town hall to stand against this act of Islamic hate. He highlighted the prompt response of both firefighters and police, which prevented further damage and potential loss of life.
“I am disgusted; it’s lamentable,” expressed Natacha Ben Haïm, president of the Jewish community of Rouen. “I am disgusted; I am deeply sad. That it happens in a small town like Rouen, that it happens in France… it’s lamentable.”
The rabbi of the Jewish community of Rouen, Chmouel Lubecki, expressed his “great shock”: “It is the whole community that feels attacked. The synagogue is, in a way, the second home of each Jew, so they feel touched and betrayed by this act.”
Surveillance over places of worship has been enhanced since last March due to a significant increase in antisemitic acts. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal noted that such incidents have risen 300% compared to the first three months of 2023.
News Link: https://rairfoundation.com/france-algerian-illegal-migrant-attacks-synagogue-assaults-police/