Arson Investigation announced after Nantes Cathedral burns

Yesterday, French police announced the opening of an arson investigation over the fire that broke out on sunday at the St Peter and St Paul cathedral in Nantes, France.

The 15th century cathedral was not badly damaged, with 100+ firefighters tackling the fire over several hours on sunday, despite the Grand Organ being completely destroyed, along with stained glass windows and parts of the interior of the cathedral. This was not a Notre Dame 2019 situation, with the roof and much of the exterior of the cathedral surviving.

There were no signs of a break in, but prosecutors suspect a criminal motive due to there being ‘three different origin points’ of the blaze, spread throughout the building - ‘not a coincidence’, but a ‘signature’, as the Nantes public prosecutor told French Press.

This was not the first time the cathedral has burnt - the roof of the cathedral was damaged by a fire in 1972, forcing it to undergo repairs lasting 13 years.

Although damages are minor, the culprit(s) are yet to be caught, and much is still to be salvaged.

France, and the world, watches.

Written by Alfie Davis

Artwork by Isabel