A massive blaze broke out in the middle of the night at the Israeli Embassy in Paris, destroying the building. Israel’s ambassador to France Eli Bar-Navi reports that there were no injuries to embassy staff since the fire started late at night. Only a small number of security personnel were in the building at the time, and made it out safely.
According to preliminary reports the blaze was not the result of arson, however the possibility that the fire was set deliberately has not been ruled out. The Jewish community in France has experienced a major increase in anti-Semitism since the start of the Oslo War 19 months ago.
A Foreign Affairs official reports that construction work was taking place in the embassy this week, which may have possibly contributed to the blaze. Several of the local firefighters were injured trying to control the fire.
The fire broke out a day after a Mossad (Secret Service) official warned that al-Queda terrorists are planning attacks against Jewish targets around the world. The agent said that possible targets might include synagogues, as was the case in Djerba, Tunisia several weeks ago. In that incident an al-Queda suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside of that town’s synagogue killing 21, mostly German tourists.
According to preliminary reports the blaze was not the result of arson, however the possibility that the fire was set deliberately has not been ruled out. The Jewish community in France has experienced a major increase in anti-Semitism since the start of the Oslo War 19 months ago.
A Foreign Affairs official reports that construction work was taking place in the embassy this week, which may have possibly contributed to the blaze. Several of the local firefighters were injured trying to control the fire.
The fire broke out a day after a Mossad (Secret Service) official warned that al-Queda terrorists are planning attacks against Jewish targets around the world. The agent said that possible targets might include synagogues, as was the case in Djerba, Tunisia several weeks ago. In that incident an al-Queda suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside of that town’s synagogue killing 21, mostly German tourists.