LIVE. Fire in front of the synagogue of La Grande-Motte: the suspect arrested in Pissevin is said to be a 33-year-old Algerian… the latest news

A fire in front of the Beth Yaacov synagogue. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

On the evening of this Saturday, August 24, 2024, the alleged perpetrator of the anti-Semitic attack at the synagogue of La Grande-Motte was arrested in the Pissevin district of Nîmes. Two people from his entourage were also arrested. Update on the situation this Sunday. 

The essentials

Hunted by more than 200 police officers, the man suspected of being behind the fire at the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte this Saturday morning was arrested by the police in the evening in Nîmes. Before the police intervened, the suspect fired on the intervention column, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office said in a press release. The latter returned fire and the man was injured in the face. His life is not in danger.  The main suspect is said to be 33 years old and of Algerian nationality. According to the Pnat, two people from his entourage have been taken into custody. 07:33.

Gérald Darmanin welcomes the intervention of the Raid

On his X account, the Minister of the Interior praised last night “the police who intervened with great professionalism despite the gunfire” .

L’auteur supposé de l’incendie criminel de la synagogue a été interpellé. Merci aux effectifs des forces de l’ordre, et principalement du RAID, qui sont intervenus avec beaucoup de professionnalisme malgré ses coups de feu.

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) August 24, 2024

07:27.

A 33-year-old man of Algerian nationality

According to BFMTV, the main suspect is a thirty-year-old of Algerian nationality.

07h22.

Two other people were arrested

In its press release published on the night of Saturday to Sunday, the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office specified that “two people from his entourage were taken into custody”. The investigation must now continue and establish ” the conditions of the preparation of his acts and his escape “.

07:21.

A 15-hour escape

As a reminder, the suspect, who acted with his face uncovered and whose actions had been captured by video surveillance cameras, was wearing a Palestinian flag on his belt, from which what appeared to be the butt of a handgun protruded. He had a red keffiyeh on his head and was holding a plastic water bottle filled with a yellowish liquid in each hand. His escape lasted 15 hours.

07:16.

An arrest at the end of the evening

The intervention took place in the Pissevin district of Nîmes at around 11:35 p.m. and the suspect, who “opened fire on the intervention column” , was “wounded in the face“, detailed the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office, without specifying the seriousness of these injuries.

07h11.

Welcome to this live broadcast

Hello and welcome to this live broadcast. Find all the latest information throughout the day on this anti-Semitic attack in La Grande-Motte.