Fire Destroys Immaculate Conception Church in Saint-Omer, France

Sep 2, 2024, 09:17 AM

A devastating fire has destroyed the Immaculate Conception Church in Saint-Omer, Pas-de-Calais, France. The church, built in 1854 and having survived two World Wars, saw its roof and bell tower collapse in the blaze. The fire occurred overnight, requiring the efforts of 90 firefighters to control. The cause of the fire remains unknown, and it is the latest in a series of church fires in France, where a church is reportedly damaged or vandalized every two weeks. The church was located near Calais and Dunkirk in northern France. The frequency of these incidents has raised concerns and questions about potential patterns or motives, with reports of a non-French arsonist being arrested in a recent case.