French police fatally shoot a man suspected of trying to set a synagogue on fire

PARIS (AP) — French police shot and killed an armed suspect early Friday who apparently planned to set fire to a synagogue in the Norman city of Rouen, the Interior Ministry said.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin posted on social media site X that the armed person had been “neutralized.”

“In Rouen this morning, national police officers neutralized an armed person who apparently wanted to set fire to the city’s synagogue. I congratulate them on their responsiveness and courage,” he said.

The ministry confirmed that the suspect was shot. No other immediate details were released.

Tensions and anger over the war between Israel and Hamas have grown in France. Anti-Semitic attacks have risen sharply in the country, which has the largest Jewish and Muslim population in Western Europe.

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