Repeated Vandalism in the Saint-Denys basilica in Argenteuil
The Saint-Denys basilica has been the target of several acts of vandalism since September. In the latest incident, two youths entered the Argenteuil basilica through a back door shouting "Allah Akbar". Police presence around the building has been increased. In September, the presbytery was damaged by vulgar graffiti. Two months later, a Latin cross at the entrance to the same building was damaged and partially stolen.
On 15 November, a person had also left excrement on the carpet of one of the chapels of the basilica. In the latest case, however, the police suspect that it was the act of a homeless person from the area.
These series of acts of vandalism have caused concern among some of the faithful. "We can clearly sense that the situation has been deteriorating for several months, there are more people hanging around the church, making noise during mass ," confided a parishioner.
This succession of deteriorations has, however, provoked the anger of several elected politicians. "Total support for the faithful of the Saint-Denys basilica in Argenteuil," declared the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, on X, who had been denouncing the "intolerable degradation" of the building for several weeks.
The President of the Île-de-France region, Valérie Pécresse, declared: "There is an urgent need to act in the face of the unacceptable damage that has been inflicted for weeks on the Saint-Denys basilica in Argenteuil."
Source: Le Figaro
Picture: Wiki Commons
