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| Catholic clergyman killed in France, suspect reportedly under police supervision for arson of cathedral | Catholic clergyman killed in France, suspect reportedly under police supervision for arson of cathedral |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Catholic priest has been killed in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre, a commune in the Vendee, by a man who had reportedly been placed under police supervision, having set fire to a cathedral in Nantes in 2020. | A Catholic priest has been killed in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre, a commune in the Vendee, by a man who had reportedly been placed under police supervision, having set fire to a cathedral in Nantes in 2020. |
| On Monday, a Catholic clergyman was found dead in the town of Saint-Laurent-sur-Sevre. Sources told French news outlet BFM TV that the suspect had already turned himself in to the police. | |
| Police have said they are not currently treating the incident as an act of terrorism. | |
| In a tweet, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed the horrific incident and announced that he would travel to the scene of the crime. “[I offer] all my support for the Catholics of our country after the dramatic assassination of a priest in Vendee.” | In a tweet, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed the horrific incident and announced that he would travel to the scene of the crime. “[I offer] all my support for the Catholics of our country after the dramatic assassination of a priest in Vendee.” |
| The victim has been identified as Father Olivier Maire by Bruno Retailleau, senator of the Vendée, who described in a tweet the clergyman’s death as “a great loss.” | The victim has been identified as Father Olivier Maire by Bruno Retailleau, senator of the Vendée, who described in a tweet the clergyman’s death as “a great loss.” |
| Retailleau stated that Maire had been hosting the perpetrator at the time. “His death testifies to the kindness of this priest whom I knew well and whose depth of faith I had been able to appreciate,” he added. | Retailleau stated that Maire had been hosting the perpetrator at the time. “His death testifies to the kindness of this priest whom I knew well and whose depth of faith I had been able to appreciate,” he added. |
| Sources told BFM TV that the suspect had already served prison time for his role in a fire at Nantes Cathedral in 2020 and was under police supervision. | Sources told BFM TV that the suspect had already served prison time for his role in a fire at Nantes Cathedral in 2020 and was under police supervision. |
| It was reported that the suspect is Rwandan and a voluntary sacristan (church assistant). Having confessed to being the cause of the Nantes fire, he was imprisoned for several months and had been released pending trial. | |
| As part of his supervision, he had been hosted for several months by the community of Montfortians. Maire was reportedly the chair of the community. | As part of his supervision, he had been hosted for several months by the community of Montfortians. Maire was reportedly the chair of the community. |
| The Rwandan national was ordered to leave the country back in 2019 by immigration authorities, but did not do so. | |
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