French authorities have launched preliminary proceedings against three men in connection with the suspected terrorist attack on a synagogue in southern France last week.
The main suspect is accused of attempted murder with a terrorist motive, while two others are under investigation for aiding and abetting the perpetrator, France’s counter-terrorism prosecutor said on Thursday.
Two of the men have been remanded in custody, while the third was released, subject to certain conditions.
The attack on Saturday targeted a synagogue in La Grande-Motte, near the southern city of Montpellier.
Two doors of the synagogue were set on fire along with two vehicles in front of the building.
A gas bottle exploded in one of the vehicles, injuring a police officer. The five people who were in the synagogue at the time were unharmed.
The alleged perpetrator, a 33-year-old Algerian, was captured after a manhunt and reportedly confessed to the crime, saying he wanted to support the Palestinian cause and trigger a reaction from Israel.
Public prosecutors said the man had long been anti-Semitic and became further radicalized in recent months.
During the attack, he was carrying a hatchet and a firearm and had a Palestinian flag tied around his waist.
Prosecutors accused the two other suspects of helping the alleged perpetrator to flee from police. One is also said to have known about the man’s plans for the attack.
The attack marks the first counter-terrorist proceedings launched in France for anti-Semitic acts since the October 7 attacks that prompted the latest war in Gaza.
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