No suspect has been arrested at this stage, but the investigations lean towards a single perpetrator.
An investigation was opened after the discovery of insulting tags on four churches near Péronne (Somme), seeming to target a parish priest, AFP learned Thursday, February 10 from the gendarmerie and the prosecution. “Four churches were discovered during the morning desecrated with the same types of inscriptions“, in the municipalities of Barleux, Brie, Flaucourt and Eterpigny, told AFP a spokesperson for the gendarmerie in Picardy, confirming information from the Mail Picard.
Read also“We are disgusted, a place of worship is sacred”: outraged Catholic faithful after the desecration of two churches in Seine-Saint-Denis
“The facts could have been committed in the night, without certainty. These are similar inscriptions on each of the four buildings, with a sex drawn and the inscription “charo”Attached to the name of the parish priest, therefore seeming to designate him, explained in a message to AFP the public prosecutor of Amiens, Alexandre de Bosschère.
“An investigation for damage to public property and defamation has been opened and entrusted to the Péronne gendarmerie brigade. Investigations are underway, in particular technical and scientific police investigations, to try to identify the perpetrator(s) of these facts.“, he continued. “The mayors of three of the four municipalities have already filed a complaint for willful degradation. The fourth mayor is expected to file a complaint tomorrow“and the priest concerned”sued for defamation“, he added.
“personal revenge»
“On the four religious buildings, there are inscriptions in red, which suggest a common author“, corn “no suspects“has not been identified or arrested at this stage, said the spokesperson for the gendarmerie. The meaning of the inscriptionsremains to be studied“, one of the possible interpretations being, “if one is interested in slang», that the term charo is associated «to someone who is looking to establish romantic relationships with several people“, he added.
Read alsoSexual abuse in the Church: the figure of “330,000” victims of the Sauvé report, questioned by experts
The Bishop of Amiens, Mgr Gérard Le Stang, “strongly condemns these tags and assures its full supportto the targeted priest, a spokeswoman for the diocese told AFP. “He has total confidence in him, there is absolutely no suspicion to be had“, she insisted, lamenting “serious and unfounded insinuations“.
According to the Amiens prosecutor,no complaint or information likely to implicate this priest has been brought to the attention of the prosecution or the gendarmerie services. No investigation is under way concerning him.“. “It’s the first time it’s happened. I am shocked by such degradation in a place of worship. We do not know the motive, nor if it is a personal revenge, (…) but it is serious“, commented the mayor of Barleux, and president of the community of communes of Haute-Somme, Eric François.