French cops shoot dead knifeman trying to set fire to synagogue in tourist hotspot before charging at armed officers

COPS have shot dead a knifeman in France after he allegedly tried to set fire to a synagogue.

Armed police opened fire on the suspect in the Normandy city of Rouen on Friday morning after he charged at officers.

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Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said police “neutralised early this morning an armed individual who clearly wanted to set fire to the city’s synagogue”.

A source close to the case told AFP the man “was armed with a knife and an iron bar, he approached police, who fired. The individual died”.

Regional French broadcaster France 3 said firefighters were at the site.

The mayor of Rouen said the Normandy town was “battered and shocked” by the incident.

France has the largest Jewish community of a country after Israel and the US, as well as Europe’s largest Muslim community.

More to follow.