Paris synagogue vandalized amid riots across France; footage shows holy books on the floor, Torah ark opened
No injuries were reported, and it is unclear whether anyone was inside at the time. In Limoges, rioters set fire to the town hall, which was built in 1883
A synagogue in Paris’ 19th arrondissement was vandalized during the violent riots that swept France over the weekend, according to footage circulated on social media and released by the Combat Antisemitism Movement.
The synagogue, on Rue Burnouf, appeared in the footage with holy books and religious items strewn across the floor, the Torah ark opened, and tables overturned and equipment scattered throughout the building. No injuries were reported, and it is unclear whether anyone was inside at the time.
No additional information on the extent of the damage has been reported.
“When chaos and violence take over the streets, synagogues are the first to suffer,” said Sacha Roytman, the movement’s CEO. “The desecration of the synagogue in Paris is a clear warning sign: What begins against Jews never stops there.”
The unrest erupted Saturday during nationwide demonstrations over rising living costs and declining public services. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said about 550,000 people took part, while the CGT trade union put the figure at 800,000.
Around 1,200 people were arrested, and more than 150 police officers were injured. The protests began last month over conditions in French schools and grew into a broader movement over economic hardship, inequality and government spending.
Masked rioters clashed with security forces, set vehicles ablaze, looted businesses and vandalized public buildings in several cities. In Paris, rioters erected burning barricades, and police used tear gas.
Government buildings and businesses were also targeted in Marseille, Lyon and Lille. In Limoges, rioters set fire to the town hall, built in 1883, and much of its roof and structure collapsed.
President Emmanuel Macron vowed to prosecute and punish those responsible. “We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who only seek to undermine our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so,” he wrote on X. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu blamed the “ultra-left” and criminals, saying the government would not be “intimidated” by the violence.