a man tried to burn down the door of a mosque on Saturday morning near Morlaix

The front door of the mosque was doused with gasoline. A suspect was identified by video surveillance cameras, but he has not yet been found. An investigation is open.

The Finistère prefecture announces in a press release that this Saturday, January 13 morning, “during prayer, an individual tried to set fire to the door of the hall of the Saint-Martin-des-Champs mosque”near Morlaix.

The incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. this Saturday morning, France Bleu Breizh Izel learned from the town hall. According to the same source, the entrance door to the place of worship was doused with gasoline or an flammable product, but the fire did not spread to the rest of the mosque. A police source told Agence Radio France that broken glass was discovered on site. Three worshipers present in the prayer room raised the alarm.

A suspect identified, an investigation opened

Surveillance cameras in the Finistère commune make it possible to identify a suspect, who has not yet been found, and to confirm that it is a premeditated act, according to information from France Bleu Breizh Izel. An investigation has been opened “so that the perpetrator of these acts can be prosecuted”says Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin on X (ex-Twitter).

The prefect of Finistère Alain Espinasse “condemns with the greatest firmness this act committed against a place of worship”. For his part, Gérald Darmanin brings his “support for the Muslims of Finistère following the damage to the Morlaix mosque this morning”. The minister also announces that a “an investigation has been opened so that the author of these acts can be prosecuted.”

For his part, Jean-Paul Vermot, the mayor of Morlaix, denounces Breizh Izel at the microphone of France Bleu “an intolerable act”of a “crass stupidity”. According to him, it is “clearly intentional”. The mosque is not “displayed in public spaces”. “The intent was malicious and perfectly targeted.” Jean-Paul Vermot hopes that there will not be “other acts against other religions” and that “the perpetrator(s) will be heavily condemned”.