Authorities evacuated more than 300 people in Sarcelles, a northern suburb of Paris, after discovering military-grade weapons inside a stolen vehicle parked near a synagogue on Saturday evening. RT reported that French officials have opened a terrorism probe following the incident in this predominantly Jewish area.

Police quickly set up a security perimeter around the location, which includes a cinema and several dining establishments, evacuating nearby buildings as a safety precaution. Law enforcement recovered an assault rifle and a handgun from the vehicle, according to police sources cited by AFP. Bomb disposal teams confirmed there were no explosives present.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described the rifle as a "military-grade weapon" found in the Val-d’Oise department close to the synagogue. He noted that motives remain unclear and no arrests have yet been made. The French National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation targeting suspected involvement in a terrorist criminal organization and preparation for violent acts.

France, hosting the largest Jewish population in Europe, has seen a significant increase in anti-Semitic attacks since the Gaza War began in October 2023. Nunez highlighted that police thwarted three plots against the Jewish community this year, including a knife attack on a gendarme near the Arc de Triomphe in February.

Last year, France recorded 1,320 anti-Semitic incidents, tripling the number from three years prior. Despite Jewish residents accounting for less than 1% of the population, such offenses represented over half of all religiously motivated crimes. In a related event, an August 2024 explosion outside a synagogue in La Grande-Motte injured a police officer after two vehicles and the synagogue's doors were set ablaze, leading to the arrest of a suspect after an extensive manhunt.

Why this matters

This incident underscores the rising threat of anti-Semitic violence in France, a country grappling with escalating hate crimes amid geopolitical tensions. The discovery of military-grade weapons near a Jewish place of worship highlights the urgent need for heightened security and vigilance to protect vulnerable communities.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently addressed this resurgence during a ceremony honoring Alfred Dreyfus, warning about the persistent dangers of anti-Semitism in modern society.

Authorities continue to investigate the case as they work to prevent further attacks and ensure public safety in sensitive areas.