Wednesday, December 25, shortly before 5 p.m., a man caused panic in the Saint-Louis church in Saint-Germain-en-Laye (Yvelines) by shouting “Allah Akbar” in front of around fifteen faithful present on site. The incident took place a few hours before the 6:30 p.m. religious service.
A shocking scene for the faithful
According to police sources, the individual entered the church under the stunned gaze of the faithful. After shouting “Allah Akbar”, he advanced to the altar, where he then made an obscene gesture by exposing his posterior.
The faithful present, surprised and shocked by this act, immediately alerted the authorities.
Arrest and police custody
The man, who had no identification papers, was quickly arrested by the police and taken into custody. The Versailles public prosecutor's office confirmed that the investigation is underway to determine the motivations for this act, as well as the identity of the suspect.
An ongoing investigation
The authorities are seeking to establish whether this act was an isolated provocation, a psychiatric disorder or an attempt at religious disruption. The first elements of the investigation should make it possible to clarify the intentions of the individual.
An incident that raises concerns
This event takes place in a context of increased vigilance for places of worship in France, particularly during religious holidays. Although the events did not result in physical violence, they greatly disturbed the faithful present, who were waiting for the service with serenity.
Source: Le Figaro
(Thank you Laurent B.)
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