The suspect admits the facts in police custody

It is now an open-air church that bears the mark of trauma. On Monday, September 2, at 4:30 a.m., a serious fire broke out in the sacristy of the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Saint-Omer (Pas-de-Calais). The 19th century building quickly caught fire and around a hundred firefighters intervened to control the flames. Unfortunately, they were unable to prevent the collapse of the church bell tower, shortly after 5 a.m. No injuries were reported, although 57 local residents had to be evacuated as a precaution.

In addition to the bell tower, significant damage was noted after the fire. The vault also collapsed, leaving the interior of the building almost completely destroyed. Only the stone structures remained standing. The organ was completely devastated. Fortunately, around twenty works (busts, statues, paintings, candle holders, etc.) were saved by the firefighters.

A suspect who admits the facts and “traces of break-in”

An investigation has been opened by the public prosecutor to try to determine the causes of the fire.

This Tuesday, September 3, a suspect was taken into custody and was “being questioned” in the morning, the prosecutor’s office announced. His arrest is “linked to human intelligence gathered yesterday (Monday) morning on the ground and corroborated,” Mickaël Derycke, the Saint-Omer commissioner, told the daily newspaper The Voice of the NorthAccording to the public prosecutor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, he finally admitted the facts during this police custody, on Wednesday September 4, and was charged and imprisoned.

The man, born in 1985 and living in a shelter before the tragedy, has “numerous” criminal records and is “known for similar acts of destruction by fire”, according to prosecutor Mehdi Benbouzid. According to the prosecutor, the investigation has brought to light “traces of a break-in” in the church, where a stained glass window was broken.

At present, the investigation is moving towards a criminal qualification of the facts, for “destruction of property by dangerous means on grounds of religion”.

A strong attachment to the “cathedral of the suburbs”

Inaugurated in 1859, this church had undergone a complete restoration and reopened its doors in 2018. Often called the “cathedral of the suburbs”, it had become a local symbol in this town and its inhabitants were very attached to it. Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region, announced that “the Hauts-de-France region will be alongside the City of Saint-Omer for the reconstruction, to see this heritage reborn”. A reconstruction that already promises to be long and costly.