A Bible was deliberately set on fire on the altar of a Protestant church in Le Sentier, causing damage and leading to the brief hospitalisation of the pastor due to smoke inhalation. A suspect has been arrested, and authorities are investigating the incident as arson targeting a place of worship.
The incident occurred on the morning of 15 March at approximately 7:25 a.m. inside the Protestant church in Le Sentier, where a Bible placed on a lectern near the altar was deliberately ignited. The pastor discovered the fire, raised the alarm, and managed to extinguish the flames before they could spread further, but was subsequently hospitalised for smoke inhalation.
Firefighters ventilated the church, while police secured evidence at the scene. The Bible and its stand were completely destroyed, and part of the parquet floor sustained damage. Authorities later arrested a 31-year-old Swiss woman from the region, who is being questioned by Vaud police. The case is being treated as an arson attack targeting a place of worship.