In France, a Rwandan migrant accused of setting fire to Nantes Cathedral killed his host priest

A 60-year-old Catholic priest was killed in the Vendée department in western France. A 40-year-old native of the African state of Rwanda is suspected of this crime. On Monday morning, the migrant himself went to the police station in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvres and confessed to the murder. transfers Reuters citing government officials. Earlier, this Rwandan citizen was suspected of setting fire to the Gothic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Nantes.

How clarified Senator from Vendée Bruno Retaio, priest gave shelter to a migrant out of mercy. The African lived with him for several months. A Le Figaro source close to the investigation clarified that the clergyman Olivier Maire was stabbed to death with a knife.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen wrote on Twitter, which goes to the Vendée to participate in the investigation and mourns along with all Catholics in France.

The immigration authorities decided to deport the Rwandan citizen back in 2019, but he remained in France. In July 2020, a migrant, according to prosecutors, set fire to the 15th-century Gothic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Nantes. It was one of the largest fires in France, extinguished by about 100 people. The flames destroyed the stained glass windows, a large organ and murals.

After the cathedral was set on fire, a letter from a Rwandan was discovered in which he wrote about personal problems and about resentment against several people who, in his opinion, did not help him enough, the prosecutor of Nantes reported. Relatives of the murdered priest also said that the migrant was horrified at the prospect of returning to Rwanda.

La Croix reports that the murder suspect is characterized by extreme psychological fragility, which was exacerbated by ten months of arrest. Because of this, he was completely confused, transfers Interfax.

The assassination of the priest provides an additional reason for the ultra-right to criticize the migration policy of President Emmanuel Macron.

“So in France you can be an illegal immigrant, set fire to the cathedral of Nantes, avoid deportation and commit a second crime by killing a priest. What is happening in our country is unprecedented: the complete collapse of the state, “- the leader of the ultra-right Marine Le Pen wrote on Twitter.

To her objected Gerald Darmanen, who called Le Pen’s statement shameful. Instead of expressing her compassion to Catholics, she sows discord by distorting facts, the minister said. He noted that the foreigner could not be deported as he was under investigation.