Burglary and Attack Stopped by Priest in Seine-Saint-Denis
A man broke and entered into the rectory of the church of Sainte-Louise-de-Marillac in the parish of Drancy, ostensibly to commit a theft. He struck the priest in the head with a bottle, but was stopped from committing further assault by the priest, who had previously studied judo.
At 7:45 in the morning on October 7th, the new pastor of Sainte-Louise-de-Marillac, sleeping in the rectory, was awakened by a noise. He then found himself face-to-face with a man who was committing a burglary and who broke a bottle on the priest's head. According to reports, the perpetrator was immediately immobilized by Fr. Bertrand, who practiced judo during his youth. The perpetrator was held to the ground by the priest until the police arrived. Father Bertrand, slightly injured, spent the rest of the morning in the hospital. His attacker, aged 45 years, is “very unfavorably known to police services” including for acts of robbery and violence.The announcement of the attack, less than three months after the attack of Saint-Etienne de Rouveray, resulted in a serious police response. The adjoining church, where a Mass was taking place, was evacuated.
Sources: La Nouvelle Republique and L'Express