Town hall set on fire in Angoulême: Mayor Xavier Bonnefont denounces “a particularly odious and reprehensible act”

The mayor of Angoulême, Xavier Bonnefont, denounced on Wednesday August 21 on franceinfo “a particularly odious and reprehensible act”after the deliberate arson of the premises of his town hall by an individual who was then seriously injured by gunfire from municipal police officers.

“Taking gasoline to set fire to the town hall of Angoulême, the symbol is there”he said, before thinking of the two town hall employees who were doused with gasoline in the elected officials’ office before alerting the municipal police: “Our assistants present on site, who were partly doused with petrol, are extremely shocked. They showed remarkable composure”greeted Xavier Bonnefont. “At present, they are receiving psychological support.”

“I saw the assistants who had to face this man”continued the mayor. “They described to me someone who didn’t react and who had a very dark look. It’s still a man who threw gasoline on their things, on their desks, on themselves.”

“The security perimeter of the town hall is maintained pending the end of the mission of the mine clearance services”says the mayor, who refers to the suspect’s car parked in front of the city hall, a covered vehicle “of registrations”. “The fire broke out in four offices of the town hall”added the elected official. “There does not appear to be any dispute” between this man and a person from the town hall. “This is not an individual known to our services at the time I speak to you.”he finished.