French security shot dead a man who “clearly” tried to set fire to the Rouen synagogue, interior minister Gérald Darmanin reported.
In Rouen, national police officers neutralized early this morning an armed individual clearly wanting to set fire to the city’s synagogue. I congratulate them for their responsiveness and courage.
According to local reports, a man armed with a knife tried to set fire to the synagogue before eyewitnesses called police to the scene at 6:45 a.m. local time (05:45 GMT).
Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignaol stated that firefighters were “currently controlling the outbreak of the fire.” There were no other victims in the incident, he added.
New Caledonia unrest
Meanwhile, recent unrest continues in New Caledonia. French President Emmanuel Macron declared a state of emergency on the island from 5 a.m. local time (18:00 GMT) on Wednesday, May 15. The emergency is expected to last for 12 days. Authorities have also banned the video app TikTok within New Caledonia.
Police clashed with 5,000 protesters in three municipalities on the Paris-ruled island. In the capital Nouméa, about 4,000 people took to the protest, French High Commissioner Louis Le Franc reported. Police reportedly arrested 200 people for breach of law and order. Sixty-four gendarmes and police officers were injured in fights with protesters.
Mass protests erupted over a new bill passed by French lawmakers on Tuesday. It allows French residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections. However, some local leaders fear the move will weaken the Kanaks’ votes.
New Caledonia became French in 1853 under Emperor Napoleon III, Napoleon’s nephew and heir. After the World War II, it became an overseas territory of France. Then, in 1957, all Kanaks were granted French citizenship. As a result of three referendums between 2018 and 2021, the majority of voters opted to remain as part of France instead of independence.
The protest in New Caledonia is likely to spark further unrest in France, in addition to student protests over government policies in Gaza and Rouen synagogue arson.
