Main suspect arrested over Limoges town hall fire
Hodei C.D., 34, a far-left activist, was detained on Tuesday in connection with the fire that destroyed Limoges town hall last Saturday. The suspect, on the security watchlist and under surveillance, is suspected of being the principal instigator of the attack.
Arrest of suspect in Limoges town hall fire
According to Le Figaro, Hodei C.D., 34, was arrested on Tuesday morning in Val-d'Issoire, a small commune situated approximately fifty kilometres from Limoges. The RAID, an elite unit of the national police, apprehended him at his parents' home. The Republican majority mayor of Limoges, Guillaume Guérin, stated that the suspect is "probably the mastermind of this operation".
Born in Paris and originally from Creuse, the young man is suspected of being the principal perpetrator of the arson attack that damaged the building, which is listed as a historical monument, last Saturday. During a mobilisation bringing together approximately 5,000 people on 17 October, he allegedly, along with other accomplices, broke windows to gain access to the building before starting the fire from the basement. The flames spread rapidly to the attic, destroying the roof and causing the collapse of the 43-metre bell tower.
Hodei C.D. was a member of far-left groups and was on the security watchlist with the authorities. His parents lived in Val-d'Issoire, a commune of 300 inhabitants. According to available information, the suspect was closely monitored by the authorities before his arrest. His father had previously been involved in a series of arson attacks linked to acts of "civil disobedience".
Source: Le Figaro