Local police are investigating the incident and claim that "this is not a Notre Dame case" but an intentional fire • Damage was only caused to a building erected in the 15th century • View documentation

A fire broke out this morning (Saturday) in Saint Peter-Saint-Paul Cathedral in the French city of Nantes. According to the initial assessment it is an ignition, after there are 3 hotspots for the flames.

France: Fire in St. Paul's Cathedral in Nantes // Photo: Reuters

Local fire chief Laurent Farley said the fire had been brought under control and said "it was not an incident like the one at Notre Dame Cathedral last year". He further added that the flames destroyed many stained glass windows and the organ in the main hall of the church.

President Emanuel Macron responded to the incident and tweeted on his Twitter account: "After Notre Dame, St. Peter's Cathedral is also going up in flames. Sends support to firefighters who face many risks to save the holy site." The new prime minister, Jean Castex, arrived in the early evening at the cathedral in the company of the interior and culture ministers. The mayor of Nantes, Johanna Roland, a member of the Socialist Party, reacted with shock to the blaze, saying it was "an important site for the Catholic community and other residents of the city, part of our history and heritage."

But while senior government officials ignored the criminal nature of the blaze, national opposition party leaders demanded a comprehensive and thorough investigation into the incident, given the high number of church assaults across France. The leader of the National Likud, Marine Le Pen, issued a statement in which she said: "What a pity to see these are the sights in which a piece of jewelry from our cultural and historical heritage is partially eaten away by flames. The source of this fire must be fully illuminated. '

Former Le Pen deputy, Florian Filippo, who now heads the Patriots, posted a video on social media saying: "Many churches have been attacked for months in the face of political and media indifference. It needs to be stopped. ' Filippo noted that in one year 877 churches were attacked throughout France. "When the fans of France know that this is an attack on France's soul and murder," Filippo declared, urging the French government to take immediate action to protect the country's churches and punish the attackers.

The fire started in the early hours of the morning when large flames were seen outside the ancient building. The municipal prosecutor said that it was decided to open an investigation immediately after the arrival of the fire brigade: "Given 3 different flames, there is no doubt that an immediate investigation should be opened." This is not the first fire in the cathedral, which was damaged by Allied bombing in 1944. In addition, in 1972 the roof of the building was demolished and rebuilt 13 years later with a concrete structure.