Man arrested over fire that gutted historic Limoges town hall during unrest
French police have detained a suspect believed to be involved in setting fire to the 19th-century town hall in Limoges during protests on October 17. Authorities say a large part of the building was destroyed.
Arrest made
A man suspected of taking part in the arson attack on the Limoges town hall has been detained, BFMTV reported on Tuesday, citing a source close to the investigation (Francja. Media: zatrzymano podejrzanego o podpalenie zabytkowego ratusza w Limoges - TVN24 – tvn24.pl). Le Figaro said the 40-year-old is an activist on the far left. He had previously been listed in a police register of people considered a potential threat to state security.
Attack during protest
The 19th-century building was attacked on Saturday, during a demonstration that, as in other French cities, was held under slogans against rising living costs (Podpalenie ratusza w Limoges. Zatrzymano podejrzanego – wiadomosci.wp.pl). Toward the end of the gathering, a group acting in a highly organised way entered the building, using among other routes an entrance through the cellar. The attackers reportedly threatened to kill people inside.
Damage and investigation
Authorities say a significant portion of the building has been irreversibly destroyed. The anti-terrorism unit of the SDAT judicial police is taking part in the investigation, and the National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) could still take over the case.
Sources
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