French police say they have arrested a man on suspicion of arson and causing an explosion outside a synagogue in a southern resort town.
Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin said a “suspect” was detained on Saturday, adding that police had shown “great professionalism.”
French media reported that the suspect opened fire on police officers coming to arrest him in the city of Nimes, wounding them in the attack.
One police officer was injured in the explosion outside the Beth Ya'akov synagogue in the nearby seaside resort of La Grande Motte early Saturday.
The officer's injuries were not considered life-threatening in the explosion, which happened between 8am and 8.30am local time (7am and 7.30am BST) on Saturday.
Authorities said five people, including the rabbi, were inside the synagogue at the time.
The explosion was caused by two cars being set on fire outside.
Police sources told French media that gas cylinders were hidden in one of the vehicles.
The suspect, who was reportedly carrying a Palestinian flag, also set fire to several entrance doors of the synagogue.
Jewish community leader Yonatan Alfi said the attack was an “attempt to kill Jews” and appeared to have been planned to target Saturday morning worshippers.
President Emmanuel Macron called the attack an “act of terrorism.”
One witness, who asked not to be named, told the BBC: “As we rounded the last corner there was a huge explosion and a fireball went up into the air.”
“It was like a movie, it was surreal. We didn't go any further.”
Prime Minister Gabriel Atal and Mr Darmanin visited the scene on Saturday evening and both had previously condemned the attack, with Mr Atal calling it an “anti-Semitic act.”
“What happened here shocks and outrages every Republican in our country,” Atat said during the visit.
“Because the reality is that French Jews are once again being targeted and attacked because of their faith.”
Attal said that an “absolute tragedy” was “narrowly averted” because if the synagogue had been full of worshippers “there would have been casualties.”
Both Attal and Darmanin said they would step up security outside the synagogue.
“I want to assure my Jewish brothers and the municipality of my full support,” Darmanin said earlier in the day.
France's Jewish community already lives under tight security, with many synagogues and Jewish schools under police protection.
A report published in January 2024 by the Council of Jewish Organisations in France (CRIF) said anti-Semitic acts in France increased nearly threefold between 2022 and 2023.
In May, police shot and killed a man after a synagogue in the northwestern city of Rouen was set on fire.
In 2015, two days after the Charlie Hebdo attacks, a hostage crisis occurred at a kosher supermarket in which four people were killed.
The outburst comes amid growing concern for Europe's Jewish communities after a new study published last month by the European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) revealed that Jews in the EU continue to face high levels of anti-Semitism.
More than 8,000 Jews in 13 EU countries, including Germany and France, were interviewed. Around 96% said they had encountered anti-Semitism in their daily lives.
The attempted arson has been met with widespread condemnation from across France's political circles.
Left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon called it an “unforgivable crime”, while Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally party said it was a “criminal and anti-Semitic act”.
