At Least 10 Torah Scrolls Stolen From Synagogue Near Paris

At least 10 Torah scrolls were stolen overnight from the ACCIL synagogue in Levallois-Perret, northwest of Paris, according to French media reports. The theft was discovered Monday morning, and police opened an investigation.

Two masked suspects reportedly entered the building through the roof, removed the scrolls and fled. Investigators are examining whether the burglary was planned in advance, but authorities have not announced a motive or formally classified the incident as antisemitic.

Worshippers reportedly discovered the theft while preparing for a bar mitzvah at the synagogue. Police were contacted immediately. It was not immediately clear whether the ceremony went ahead or was moved elsewhere.

The exact number of missing scrolls remained uncertain as reports developed. Initial accounts placed the number between 10 and 12, while Rabbi Chalom Lellouche later gave a higher estimate.

“Between 12 and 15 Torah scrolls were stolen from the ACCIL synagogue in Levallois,” Lellouche told Radio J.

Police are reviewing security-camera footage, questioning witnesses and examining a vehicle believed to have been used by the thieves. Investigators are also reportedly considering whether the suspects had previously surveyed the site or possessed knowledge of the building’s layout. No arrests or identified suspects had been announced.

The Service de Protection de la Communauté Juive, which helps protect Jewish institutions in France, searched the community complex after the burglary was discovered to ensure that no immediate threat remained. Bomb-disposal specialists also inspected the premises as a precaution. No explosive device or additional danger was reported.

Authorities have not said whether the Torah scrolls were taken because of their religious significance, their monetary value or another motive. Reports also did not provide a confirmed account of damage to the synagogue’s ark, roof or security systems.

The theft came days after French authorities detained six suspects over an alleged plot targeting a synagogue in Sarcelles, another Paris suburb. The arrests followed the discovery of a suspicious vehicle near the synagogue on July 12, prompting the evacuation of approximately 300 people. France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor said the alleged plot was linked to Islamic extremism.

There is no reported connection between the Sarcelles case and the theft in Levallois. Police continued searching for the thieves and the missing Torah scrolls.