The Archdiocese of Montpellier lodged a complaint after participants in a street carnival vandalised the city’s cathedral while police observed without intervening.
Participants in the “Karnaval des gueux” in Montpellier vandalised the exterior of the Cathedral of Saint‑Pierre with graffiti, lit pallet fires, and danced around them in front of the building while police officers remained on site without intervening. The Archdiocese of Montpellier filed a complaint to clarify the motives for the vandalism and the police response. Archbishop Norbert Turini said that “individuals allowed themselves to defile the doors and walls of our most central place of worship,” adding that the events “shock the faithful and the residents of our city”.
The prefecture explained that officers chose not to intervene immediately because “the tactical choice was to take into account the risk to those present of an offensive police intervention.” Prefect Chantal Mauchet added that she “firmly condemns the fire and the damage caused to the religious building.”