French cops shoot dead knifeman trying to set fire to synagogue in tourist hotspot before charging at armed officers

COPS have shot dead a knifeman in France after he tried to set fire to a synagogue.

Armed police opened fire on the suspect in the Normandy city of Rouen on Friday morning after he charged at officers during the dawn attack.

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Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said police “neutralised early this morning an armed individual who clearly wanted to set fire to the city’s synagogue”.

The ministry confirmed the suspect was shot and killed as the area was put into lockdown.

Officials said the attacker was armed with a knife and an iron bar and threatened a police officer – who fatally shot him.

The dead man was not immediately identified, a police source said.

Cops were called to the scene after smoke was spotted coming from the synagogue just before 7am local time, local reports say.

The fire has been brought under control, a Rouen city hall official said.

The mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, said: “Through this attack and this attempted fire at the Rouen synagogue, it is not only the Jewish community that is affected.

“The entire city of Rouen is bruised and in shock.”

He made clear there were no other victims other than the attacker.

Elie Korchia, the president of France’s Consistoire Central Jewish worshippers body, said police had “avoided another anti-Semitic tragedy”.

Yonathan Arfi, the president of the Representative Council of Jewish Institutions of France, said: “Attempting to burn a synagogue is an attempt to intimidate all Jews.

“Once again, there is an attempt to impose a climate of terror on the Jews of our country.

“Combating anti-Semitism means defending the Republic.”

France has the largest Jewish community after Israel and the US, as well as Europe’s largest Muslim community.

Against the backdrop of tensions in the Middle East and the Israel-Hamas war, France recently raised its alert level to the highest level.

Rouen public prosecutor’s office said two investigations have been launched into the attack.

Rouen prosecutor Frédéric Teillet said: “There are two separate investigations: a first on the arson targeting a place of worship and on intentional violence against persons holding public authority, and a second on the circumstances of the death of the individual.”

An investigation by France’s police inspectorate general is automatic when an individual is killed by the police.

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office said it is currently assessing whether it will take up the case.

In 2016, Rouen was rocked by an ISIS attack when a priest was killed with a knife during service in the town of Saint-Étienne-du-Rouvray.

More to follow.

Source: Sun