French police shoot dead man ‘planning to set fire to a synagogue’

French police have shot dead a man who seemed to be planning to set fire to a synagogue in the city of Rouen, in Normandy.

The man was armed with a knife and was shot as police moved towards him, after they were called at around 06.45 (05.45am) when smoke was seen rising from the synagogue.

France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the individual was “neutralized” on Friday morning, and thanked officers for their “responsiveness and courage”.

Rouen Mayor Nicolas Mayer-Rossignaol said the attack on the synagogue did not just affect the Jewish community, saying the whole city was “battered and in shock”.

This is a breaking news story and is being updated.