Arson to Church in Calais
On 10. December, rooms, doors, and objects at the Notre Dame des Armées Church in Calais were burned during an arson attack. One of the parish members commented that they perceived a"strong burning smell" when they entered the building on that day. Unknown perpetrators had burned the door leading to the sacristy, the room where the priest prepares the celebrations and the floor tile. The police have opened an investigation, they are treating the case as an intensional fire caused by the perpetrator. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and the fire did not affect "valuable objects".
"According to the information we have, someone entered the church, we don't know how, and set fire to the sacristy," explained Father Pierre Arlan, the new parish priest of Calais. The priest also filed a complaint with the police.
Although the damage to the small church in Pas-de-Calais was minimal, the midnight mass for Christmas had to be cancelled due to the smell of smoke.
Source: Valeurs Actuelles, L'Observatoire de la Christianophobie
Symbolic Picture: Unsplash
Update: A member of the parish who had keys to the church has been convicted. He set fire to the church out of vengeance because he felt he was not appreciated enough.
Sources: Nord Littoral, La Voix du Nord, L'Observatoire de la Christianophobie