An explosion took place outside a synagogue in southern France on Saturday morning, which police are treating as attempted arson.

It was caused by two cars being set alight outside the Beth Yaacov synagogue in La Grande-Motte, authorities said. One of the vehicles contained a hidden gas bottle.

France’s Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin called the incident “an obviously criminal act”.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he wrote: “I want to assure our Jewish fellow citizens and the municipality of my full support”, adding that all means were being mobilised to find the perpetrator.

Mr Darmanin and French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal are expected to travel to the scene later on Saturday.

One police officer injured in the explosion was taken to Montpellier University Hospital, French media report. His injuries are not said to be life-threatening.

Occitaine regional leader, Carole Delga, condemned the incident and said France would protect its Jewish population.

In a post on X, Ms Delga thanked local police officers for their “composure and professionalism”.

The mayor of La Grande-Motte, Stéphane Rossignol, said surveillance cameras had picked up an individual setting fire to vehicles in front of the synagogue, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.

The Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France (CRIF) described the incident as an “attempt to kill Jews”.

CRIF’s president, Yonathan Arfi, wrote on X: “Exploding a gas canister in a car in front of Grande-Motte’s synagogue at the expected time of arrival of worshipers: this is not just attacking a place of worship, it is an act to try and kill Jews.”