France has arrested a man suspected of links to the ultra-left in connection with the burning of a historic town hall in Limoges, as anti-terrorism investigators examine the fire that destroyed part of the building during violent unrest on Saturday.
The man, believed to be around 40 years old, was arrested on Tuesday by officers from the specialised RAID police unit in Val d’Issoire, a town near Limoges, according to the Limoges prosecutor’s office. A source close to the investigation said he had previously been flagged for surveillance because he was considered a potential threat and was linked to ultra-left movements.
The fire broke out at the historic town hall on Saturday, engulfing the building and causing its roof and belfry to collapse. Dating back to 1883, the building is one of the most prominent symbols of the unrest that accompanied nationwide demonstrations over the rising cost of living, conditions in schools and other public grievances.
France’s Counter-Terrorism Sub-Directorate, known as SDAT, has also been brought into the investigation, according to a separate source close to the case. The involvement of specialist investigators reflects the seriousness of the suspected arson, although the authorities have not yet established publicly that the fire was a terrorist act.
The destruction has stirred painful memories of the April 2019 fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. That blaze devastated part of the historic landmark and shocked the country. Investigators believe the Notre-Dame fire was accidental, while the circumstances surrounding the Limoges town hall fire remain under investigation.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said on Monday evening that anti-terrorism prosecutors would soon decide whether to take over the Limoges case and investigate it as a suspected terrorist attack.
Speaking to French television channel TF1, Darmanin said that if anti-terrorism prosecutors assumed responsibility for the investigation, it would indicate that authorities considered the destruction a terrorist act. He also suggested that individuals, particularly those linked to the far left, may have organised the attack. His remarks reflected the government’s concerns, but no final determination had been announced in the information available.
Limoges Mayor Guillaume Guerin, a right-wing politician, has criticised the police response to the unrest. He accused officers of lacking the resources needed to contain the violence and of retreating in the face of rioters. Guerin also called on the government to commit millions of euros towards rebuilding the town hall, arguing that the state had failed to protect the city.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is scheduled to visit Limoges on Friday, according to his office. His visit comes as questions grow over the authorities’ handling of the unrest and the future of the damaged historic building.
Around 5,000 people took part in Saturday’s demonstration in Limoges, including approximately 700 individuals whom authorities described as radicalised and extremely violent. The fire occurred amid the disorder surrounding the protest, which was part of a wider day of demonstrations across France over economic pressures and public services.
A further 7,000 people gathered on Sunday evening to protest against the violence. The two demonstrations highlighted the tensions surrounding the original protests, as anger over living costs and school conditions was accompanied by a separate public backlash against the destruction and unrest.
The investigation into the Limoges fire is continuing. The arrest marks a significant development in the effort to establish who was responsible for the destruction, but the suspect’s alleged connections and the possibility of a terrorist motive remain matters for investigators to examine.
