On June 9, the Montierneuf church in Poitiers was found vandalised. The cross was twisted, the altar smashed, vases of flowers were thrown against the walls, a sacred plaque on the altar was unsealed, twelve columns were torn down and the cross from the high altar was thrown on the sidewalk. Furthermore, furniture and sacred objects were damaged. The most symbolic and sacrilegious act for the catholic community remains the degradation of the tabernacle, where the consecrated hosts were kept. It was unsealed from the top.
In a press release the municipality condemns "damage to this religious and heritage building" and expresses "its support for the parishioners".
The religious building will be closed following this damage. In response, the city announced that it wanted to file a complaint to identify those responsible for this act.
This incident happened only three weeks after the damage and fire at the church of Sainte-Thérèse-de-Poitiers in the Condorcet district. The police are investigating.