Elderly Priest Assaulted and Robbed in Cambrai
A 96-year-old priest in Cambrai was violently assaulted, tied up, and robbed in his presbytery. Four suspects have since been arrested and are facing charges including aggravated violence, unlawful detention, and the theft of both personal and religious items.
The attack occurred on 17 March 2025 at around 08:00, when perpetrators forced entry into the residence of Abbé Devred in Cambrai. The priest was struck several times, tied to a chair, and gagged. The attackers stole chequebooks, cash, and religious items, including a chalice. The victim was hospitalised and left in a state of shock.
The level of violence used against a 96-year-old clergyman, combined with the targeting of religious objects, raised shock among the local community.
On 20 May 2025, four suspects aged between 18 and 21 were arrested. Two of them are French nationals, born in Cambrai and Saint-Quentin, with prior criminal records, including convictions for violence and theft.
The other two suspects are reported to be of Algerian and Tunisian origin. According to the report, they had been accommodated as unaccompanied minors and were later living in precarious conditions in a squat. One of the two was subject to an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF) issued shortly before the attack. No religious motivation has been established in the available sources.
The suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention and are being prosecuted for aggravated violence, unlawful detention, and aggravated theft committed in a group and against a vulnerable person. Their trial was scheduled for 10 July 2025.
Source: Le Parisien
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