Serial Arsonist Set Two Fires in Churches in Millau; Attempted Arson in a Third
The 22-year-old suspect appeared in court on September 21 and a trial will begin on October 12. He is said to be Moroccan national, and already known to authorities for previous fires set in Paris and Millau.
On September 19, an English tourist made a report after noticing a cloud of smoke billowing from the doors of the Sacré-Coeur in Millau. The altarpiece of Saint Francis was on fire. Firefighters extinguished the furniture before the flames spread to the building. Upon arrival, the investigators found that the fire had likely been intentionally set.
Leaders of the Catholic parish reported frequent visits of a young man behaving strangely in recent weeks in the church, as well as his presence in the nave that morning.
Around 2:30 pm, a second fire was reported, this time at the church of Notre-Dame de l’Espinasse, 400 meters from the Sacré-Coeur. Again, an altarpiece dedicated to St. Anthony was set on fire. "Luckily, two volunteers extinguished the flames with holy water,” according to the police captain.
Meanwhile, the police and the parish had agreed to place the last place of Catholic worship open to the public under surveillance: the church of Saint-Antoine. Around 5:00 pm, a man matching the description of the witnesses at Sacré-Coeur was arrested and taken into custody, as he prepared to set another fire.