Attempted Arson at Gothic Basilica in Lorraine
Two deliberately lit fires inside the Basilica of Saint‑Nicolas‑de‑Port in Lorraine led local authorities to denounce an arson attack and file formal complaints.
A fire broke out inside the Basilica of Saint‑Nicolas‑de‑Port in Meurthe‑et‑Moselle, Lorraine, on 4 February, when two small ignition points were discovered on piles of paper. According to Mayor Luc Binsinger, the fires had been “deliberately started” and were located at a chair and at the foot of a statue. The flames were extinguished before firefighters arrived, though emergency crews deployed ventilation equipment to clear smoke and evacuated the building.
Local authorities and the parish filed complaints on the grounds that the incident constituted an intentional act against the church building. The mayor stated that a 10‑year‑old child was believed to be responsible, explaining that the child “was glimpsed” by volunteers who were dismantling the Christmas nativity scene on the opposite side of the basilica. He added that the individual would be identified through the basilica’s internal and external video‑surveillance system.
Mayor Binsinger publicly condemned the act, describing it as “an act that I strongly condemn, like any gratuitous act of incivility and violence.” The investigation focused on how the fires were set, why paper piles were targeted, and whether the suspected minor acted alone. The incident was treated as a deliberate attack on a Christian place of worship, prompting both civic and ecclesial authorities to pursue legal action.
Source: Francebleu, BFM
Photo: X