This morning, French security forces defused a non-triggered explosive device that a man arrested hours later had placed in front of the altar of the Roman Cathedral. Toulouse (south) in full mass before escaping.
Toulouse prosecutor Samuel Vuelta-Simon told the newspaper La Dépêche du Midi that the suspect had a 47 year old man He was arrested on the street without any resistance.
The man in pain according to the newspaper psychiatric problemsHe was wearing a hat and mask when he entered the Basilica of Saint Étienne.
Simon d’Artigue, curator of the museum St. Etienne’s Cathedral From Toulouse, he explained to the press that at 8:00 am (6:00 GMT) a man entered through one of the basilica’s doors and left a bag next to the stairs leading up to the altar.
Although the sacristan, who was interested in candles, tried to stop him, he was unsuccessful and the individual He came out through the same door he entered.
Religious leaders decided to evacuate about forty people inside and reported the situation to the authorities. law enforcementwho set up a security perimeter.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a statement on his Twitter account that the police operation was concluded “thanks to the rapid response of the bomb disposal squads”. no casualties.
Inside the 20-by-25-centimeter package left by the suspect was a potentially explosive device containing an explosive substance. hydrochloric acid and aluminum, however, it was not equipped with an activation mechanism. The prosecutor noted that all these products can be easily purchased in stores.