“They climbed with their bare hands”: the police arrest two men on the roof of Beauvais cathedral

A breathtaking view of all Beauvais.

According to our information, two men were arrested this Saturday morning by the police while they were on the roof of Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Beauvais.

At the end of the morning, they were still heard at the police station as part of a free hearing.

In their first statements, they explained to the police "that they wanted to take pictures".

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It was around 6 a.m., when the sun had not yet risen, that a police patrol saw flashes crackling from the top of the 48 m high religious building.

Quickly, they realize that two men are there.

After asking the support of his firefighters and a manager to open them access to the cathedral, the officials go up to find them.

"They posed no difficulty in coming down," says a policeman who nevertheless welcomes a certain audacity.

"They climbed with their bare hands", hallucinates the latter for whom the two men - aged 20 and 22 - seem "quite used to doing this kind of small feat".

"We do not improvise a cathedral climber like that," said the official.

On the side of the Diocese of Beauvais, if we can conceive "that the panorama must be pleasant" we strongly advise against undertaking this kind of ascent.

A risk of "fatal fall", recalls the diocese

"In addition to potentially damaging a monument, there is still a risk of a fatal fall, especially at this time of day when there are few people in the streets to alert the emergency services", warns Julien Serey, adviser to Bishop Jacques Benoit-Gonnin.

Also, he reminds that major renovations are about to begin.

“Which proves everything is not in good condition.

We can think that something is solid and finally is not”.

But according to the adviser to the bishop of Oise, these facts remain “fortunately rare”.

“In 10 years, this is the second time I've heard of it.

Two years ago, it was someone quite well known in this environment of urban climbing, ”he reports.

In November 2020, it was indeed a man known under the pseudonym of SICO, used to climbing to the top of historical monuments, who had climbed Saint-Pierre cathedral.

“The fear was that he would give ideas to others,” laments Julien Serey.

According to article R645-13 of the Penal Code, entering a listed building "to which access is prohibited or regulated in an apparent manner, without being authorized to do so by virtue of legislative or regulatory provisions or having been authorized to do so by the authorities authorities or the owner is punished with the fine provided for 5th class offenses” which amounts to 1,500 euros.