French police shoot dead man during attempt to set fire to Rouen synagogue: Interior minister

LONDON (AA) — French security forces have shot and killed a man who was "clearly" trying to set fire to a synagogue in the northwestern city of Rouen, the country's interior minister announced Friday morning.

French police "neutralized early this morning an armed individual clearly wanting to set fire to the city's synagogue," Gerald Dermanin wrote on X.

The man, who was armed with a knife, according to local reports, tried to start a fire at the synagogue before police were called to the scene at 6.45 a.m. local time (0545GMT).

Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignaol said firefighters were "currently controlling the outbreak of the fire," adding that there had been no other victims in the incident.