Elderly parishioner assaulted and robbed inside Cathedral in Saint-Étienne
On 9 June, a 78-year-old parishioner was violently assaulted inside Saint-Charles Cathedral in Saint-Étienne while reading notices in the entrance hall. The assailant forcibly stole her necklace before fleeing the scene. The attack left the victim severely shocked, prompting a police investigation and strong reactions from the diocese which condemned the assault on the elderly worshipper inside the church.
On 8 June 2026, a 78-year-old woman was attacked in the entrance hall of Saint-Charles Cathedral in Saint-Étienne. According to surveillance footage, the victim, who was using a walking aid, was reading displayed notices when a man approached her, briefly interacted with her, then grabbed her and after a struggle forcibly removed the gold chain she was wearing before fleeing the scene.
Video footage shows that the victim attempted to resist the attack but was unable to prevent the highly aggressive assault and theft. Following the incident, she was assisted by a priest and the sacristan present at the cathedral. According to police, she did not suffer physical injuries but was left severely shocked by the attack.
The incident had a significant impact on the diocesan community. In an official statement, the Diocese of Saint-Étienne expressed its indignation at what it described as a violent attack on a defenceless elderly person. The diocese stated that the fact that the assault occurred inside the cathedral added to the gravity of the incident and it voiced support for the victim. It also encouraged the work of investigators and law enforcement authorities.
The victim filed a complaint the following day and the investigation was entrusted to the local judicial police. A suspect was subsequently arrested and was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and permanently banned from French territory.
Source: diocese-saintetienne, leparisien
Image: wikicommons
