Suspect in Limoges town hall fire seeks release, defence says case empty
Lawyers for a 34-year-old man held over the 17 October fire that gutted Limoges town hall asked a court to free him and quash his indictment.
Lawyers for a 34-year-old man held in the investigation into the arson attack that gutted Limoges town hall asked France's court of appeal on Tuesday to free him and cancel his indictment, Sud Ouest reported.
The town hall's roof and bell tower collapsed after radical protesters broke in and started the fire on 17 October, during nationwide unrest, Sud Ouest reported. Prosecutors have described the suspect, who is from the Creuse region, as the "most active and relentless" instigator; he was arrested on 20 October in Bussiere-Boffy, in Haute-Vienne. He arrived at the hearing under escort and was applauded at length by about forty supporters, Sud Ouest said.
His lawyer, Guillaume Laverdure, told the court the case had been "absorbed by politics" and that there were not enough serious, consistent clues to justify the indictment. "In this case, the victim is walls," he said, arguing that footage showed only an unidentifiable man in a yellow vest. Another of the suspect's lawyers, Henri Braun, said he had been thrown to public opinion. Le Monde reported that the hearing was disrupted and that lawyers for both suspects in the case denounced what they called a thin file and political pressure.
The man, a construction temp worker and environmental campaigner, is under investigation for attempted homicide of a police officer and destruction of the town hall, Sud Ouest reported. He told the hearing only that he wanted to be released; prosecutors sought to keep him in detention, saying he discarded his phone when police approached and warning of a risk he could reoffend. A ruling is expected on Thursday.
Separately, the town of Biarritz voted on 2 November to give 10,000 euros to the Fondation du Patrimoine, which has raised more than a million euros, about half its target, to help rebuild the Limoges town hall, which opened in 1883, Actu.fr reported.
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What we know
- 1 outlet · Sud Ouest A 34-year-old man held over the 17 October arson attack on Limoges town hall asked an appeal court to free him and cancel his indictment, Sud Ouest reported.
- 2+ outlets · Sud Ouest, Le Monde The town hall's roof and bell tower collapsed in the fire, set during nationwide unrest; the suspect was arrested on 20 October in Haute-Vienne.
- 2+ outlets · Sud Ouest, Le Monde His lawyers argued the case against him was weak and politically driven; prosecutors sought to keep him detained, warning of a risk of reoffending.
- 1 outlet · Actu.fr The town of Biarritz has pledged 10,000 euros toward rebuilding the town hall, part of a fund that has raised over a million euros, Actu.fr reported.
Not yet confirmed
- Unconfirmed Le Monde reported a second suspect's defence also argued the case was weak, though details of that person's case were not given.
How each fact is established: Verified checked by an ECTV editorOfficial stated by an official body2+ outlets reported independently by two or more news organisations1 outlet reported by a single news organisation so farUnconfirmed claimed or reportedHow we label facts
Why it matters for Europe
The fire, which gutted a town hall that opened in 1883 during protests against the cost of living, has become one of the clearest symbols of that day's unrest across France. The case has also drawn solidarity funding from other towns, including Biarritz, for the historic building's reconstruction.
Sources
Reported by 3 reports from 3 independent outlets in 2 countries.
- Sud Ouest: Incendie de la mairie de Limoges : « La victime, ce sont des murs », plaide la défense d’un suspect
- Actu.fr: Après l'incendie de la mairie de Limoges, Biarritz verse 10 000 euros à la fondation du patrimoine par solidarité
- Le Monde: Après l’incendie de la mairie de Limoges, la défense des deux suspects dénonce un « dossier assez vide » et « des pressions politiques » lors d’une audience perturbée
Source balance
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Questions and answers
- What happened at Limoges town hall?
- Radical protesters broke in during an 17 October demonstration and started a fire that brought down the roof and bell tower, Sud Ouest reported.
- What does the defence argue?
- That there is not enough evidence to justify the indictment of a 34-year-old suspect and that the case has become politicised, his lawyers told the appeal court.
- What happens next?
- A court ruling on whether to free the suspect and quash his indictment is expected on Thursday.
This article was written with AI assistance from 3 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.