Arson Causes Destruction of Polish church's Presbytery

Case information
Incident date
Country
France
Place
Raismes
Categories
  • Social Hostility / Intolerance
Attack Against
  • Faith
Perpetrator / Motive Indicators
  • Private
Hate Crime & Violent Incidents
  • Arson
  • Desecration
  • Vandalism (all)
  • Vandalism of Christian Building (other)
Place of Incident
  • Christian Building
  • Church
Bias Indicators
  • Pattern or Frequency of Attacks
  • Victim/Witness Perception
Reported to Police
  • Yes
Response of Local Authorities
  • Investigated
Symbolic image; not a photograph of the reported incident.Image credit: Unsplash

On the 13. October in Raismes, an arson attack destroyed the presbytery of the Polish church of St. Cecile. The presbytery was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. According to the news, there have been several arson attacks in the city of Raismes since March 2022. The perpetrators have not yet been identified. The mayor of Raismes, America Robin, talks about this frequent vandalism usually perpetrated by young people between 12 and 20 years old.

Aymeric Robin even wrote to the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, and to the Minister of Justice, Eric Dupond-Moretti, asking for a meeting: "This situation has gone on for too long, it has become unbearable", he writes.

"Six months ago, it all started as a bidding war, it was who was going to be the most inflammatory. These are groups of friends who, when they are together, lose their inhibitions without realising the traumatic and financial consequences", Mr Robin adds.

Aymeric Robin is trying to raise awareness in the country about this issue.

Sources