French police hold suspect longer in Limoges city hall fire
French police extended custody by 48 hours for a man held over the fire that gutted Limoges city hall, franceinfo reported. The 34-year-old is on a French security watch list as a suspected far-left activist, franceinfo and RMC reported. He has not been charged.
French police have extended custody by 48 hours for a man held over the fire that gutted the city hall in Limoges, according to franceinfo. The 34-year-old was arrested early Tuesday, RMC reported.
The fire broke out Saturday during protests across France, the BBC reported. The clock tower and parts of the roof of the 19th-century building collapsed, it said. A group of people got inside the building and set the fire, franceinfo reported.
The suspect is known to police and intelligence services, franceinfo reported. He is on a French national security watch list over ties to the far left, franceinfo and RMC reported. The BBC, citing French media, said he is known to police for violence against public officials.
He was arrested in a small town between Limoges and Poitiers with help from a police special unit, RMC reported. The Limoges prosecutor has opened an inquiry into destroying property by dangerous means as an organized group, it said. Custody can last up to 96 hours, the prosecutor said, according to RMC.
France's counterterrorism police unit is helping with the case, franceinfo and RMC reported. The national counterterrorism prosecutor's office has not taken the case but is watching it, the outlets reported. RMC said the act is not being treated as terrorism for now.
The Limoges mayor has asked the government for money to rebuild, RMC reported. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu plans to visit the city Friday, it said.
The protests were over fuel prices, the cost of living and public services, the BBC reported. Lecornu has promised a "massive" police presence for more protests planned Saturday, the BBC reported. Several cities, including parts of Paris, have overnight curfews this week.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said 149 people were in detention after the weekend protests, the BBC reported.
What we know: A 34-year-old man is in custody over the fire, and his custody was extended.
What we don't: Whether he will be charged and whether anyone else was involved.
Where outlets agree Franceinfo and RMC report that the 34-year-old suspect in the Limoges city hall fire is on a French security watch list as a suspected far-left activist and that counterterrorism police are helping with the case.
Where they differ Franceinfo and RMC don't conflict on the facts, though franceinfo reports that custody has now been extended by 48 hours while RMC, writing earlier, says custody could run as long as 96 hours.