A man in his 60s carrying a knife attempted to break into a Jewish school and a kosher supermarket in Marseilles in southern France on Friday, local media reported.

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In response to the attempted break-ins, police have stepped up their presence at Jewish institutions in the city.

According to initial reports, the man – whose head was reportedly covered by a towel – arrived at the city's Yavne school at 8:15 a.m. and got out of his car, holding a knife.

#Marseille Interpellation de l'assaillant armé de l'école juive et l'épicer cacher pic.twitter.com/oNGJTiGvMy

— Pierre Sautarel (@FrDesouche) March 5, 2021

After security guards prevented him from entering, he turned to a nearby kosher market and tried to break in there. Security guards subdued him and no one was wounded in the incident.

During the suspect's attempt to breach the school's gates, the students were under lockdown in classrooms.

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Two of the victims have been named: Moshe Deutsch, 24, a Satmar Hassid, and Leah Minda Ferencz, 33, who owned the store with her husband.

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Others were injured as a result of rapid-fire shooting by two male suspects entering the store and were taken to a local hospital.

"We have been in close contact with the Jewish community in #JerseyCity to help where we can. While we work through details/investigation of today's incident I know the entire Jersey City community stands together with the Jewish Community during these challenging times," Fulop said in a Twitter message.

Video: Reuters

According to Chabad.org, the store is located next to a small synagogue and school with about 40 Jewish children, said Rabbi Shmuel Levitin, who directs Chabad Young Professionals of Hoboken and Jersey City with his wife, Esta, and frequents the market.

The store owner had left moments before the shooting began to pray the afternoon Mincha service at the synagogue and was unable to return, said Rabbi Moshe Schapiro, co-director of Chabad of Hoboken and Jersey City, who has been in touch with him.

FBI New Jersey, the Hudson County SWAT Team, New Jersey's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and other law-enforcement agencies responded to the incident.

Nearby schools, including a Catholic one, were first on lockdown; however, the children – all safe – have since been dismissed.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the men and women of the Jersey City Police Department, especially with the officers shot during this standoff, and with the residents and schoolchildren currently under lockdown," said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. "I have every confidence in our law-enforcement professionals to ensure the safety of the community and resolve this situation."

"Just seeing the news out of Jersey City – please avoid Martin Luther King Drive until further notice. Thank you to the first responders who arrived on the scene," tweeted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

"Closely monitoring the active shooter situation in Jersey City. For folks in the area, please continue to avoid Martin Luther King Drive for now – it's not safe. Grateful for the first responders who quickly arrived on the scene, and praying for the officers shot in the standoff," tweeted Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.).

At least one US politician wasted no time connecting the unfolding situation to the calls for gun control.

"Terrible news in Jersey City today as two gunmen shot and injured one police officer near Martin Luther King Drive. Gun violence is my top priority! We've already passed bills and I am pushing my gun buyback bill to get these guns off the street," tweeted Rep. Donald Payne Jr., whose district includes Jersey City.

The White House said that US President Donald Trump has been briefed about the situation.

Arthur Stark, chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman and CEO of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, expressed solidarity "for the Jewish community and all the residents of Jersey City, where it appears members of the community were wounded by gunfire, as were members of the police force responding to gunfire from active shooters. We do not know at this point if the kosher supermarket from which they were firing was an intended target. We pray for the safety of all those involved."

The original version of this story was reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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