French police have arrested a suspect in the arson that destroyed Limoges’ historic city hall during the nationwide riots on October 17. The suspect is a 34-year-old far-left activist listed on the country’s “S-file,” a security database of people considered potential threats to national security, including suspected terror links.
The elite RAID police unit detained him early Tuesday in a raid on the village of Bussière-Boffy in the Haute-Vienne department. According to CNEWS, he is known to security services for previous violent offenses against public officials, including police officers.
The suspect, originally from the Corrèze department, works in temporary construction jobs and has been active in environmental causes. Limoges Mayor Guillaume Guérin of the Republicans called him the “mastermind” of the attack.
The man was previously convicted on appeal and given a one-year suspended sentence for his role in a 2024 protest against the construction of a wood-pellet factory in the town of Guéret. He has appealed that conviction to France’s highest court and is separately facing charges for assaulting a police officer.
Terror investigation
After the fire, the case was transferred to the Sub-Directorate for Counter-Terrorism (SDAT), partly over suspicions that violent extremists were involved. France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office is also monitoring the case.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told CNEWS that the attack may have been “an organized and terrorist act.” Investigators are now examining whether the arson was a planned operation rather than spontaneous violence during the unrest.
The 143-year-old building was largely destroyed when rioters forced their way in and set it alight on October 17, one of the most violent days of the protests that swept France.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the state will help rebuild the city hall, calling it a symbol of a nation that does not surrender and is not deterred by threats. He is expected to visit Limoges on Friday.
