Riots in France: Arrest after fire from town hall in Limoges

During the riots in France, the historic town hall of Limoges burned down. The fire had become a symbol of unrest. Now there was an arrest: It is said to be a police known left extremist. After the fire in the town hall of the central French city of Limoges during the riots over the weekend, the police have now caught a man allegedly involved in the arson. Special forces had arrested the suspect in a place in the surrounding area, reported the newspaper Le Parisien and the station CNews, referring to the police. Accordingly, it is a police-known left-wing extremist, which is recorded by the authorities as security-relevant. According to RTL, the suspect is already known to investigators for violence against public officials. An anti-terrorism unit took over the investigation, according to the news agency AFP. He lives in the neighbouring department of Creuse. Serious damage after arson On the margins of nationwide demonstrations against high costs of living and maladministration in the education system, there were serious riots and violence. Thousands of shops were looted, town halls and police stations attacked and several buildings set on fire. The government attributes the violence primarily to left-wing extremists. In the 130,000-inhabitant city of Limoges, the magnificent town hall, which is under historical protection, was set on fire. According to eyewitnesses, masked protesters had entered the town hall to set fire. The 143 year old building had gone up in flames, the bell tower collapsed. The striking building was "largely lost," said the responsible prefect Maurice Barate. The mayor of Limoges, Guillaume Guérin, had criticized on Sunday that the police had “lacked the means” to bring the situation under control and the forces had withdrawn in the face of the rioters “in Limoges as well as in other cities”. Guérin called for the reconstruction of the town hall. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu promised state aid, describing the town hall as "the symbol of a nation that is neither defeated nor intimidated". On Friday, Lecornu will visit Limoges. With information from Cai Rienäcker, ARD Paris