In brief
In the early hours of Saturday, the town hall in Limoges, France, was set ablaze amid the country’s latest wave of protests. The 200‑year‑old building’s clock tower spire collapsed as firefighters battled the blaze. Residents watched the inferno – and the damage that now threatens the structure’s integrity – with shock, as officials confirmed the fire was deliberately started. This incident follows a pattern of vandalism against public buildings in France during earlier demonstrations, raising concerns about the preservation of cultural heritage amid civil unrest.
A 19th‑century town hall in the French city of Limoges was set on fire during the night of Saturday, after a surge of nationwide protests that saw thousands taking to the streets.
Images that circulated online show flames licking the façade of the historic building, with the clock tower’s spire toppling down into the square below. Firefighters worked through the night to contain the blaze, but the damage was already extensive when they reached the scene.
On Sunday, residents watched as emergency crews examined the returned doorway and stairwell, assessing whether the structure could sustain the fire’s heat and subsequent collapse. Local officials have not yet released a definitive assessment of the building’s safety, but reports of cracks emerging along the stone walls have been noted.
"Damaging heritage buildings because you're angry with the government is selfish," said one resident, echoing critics who argue that acts of arson against cultural landmarks do not solve political grievances but harm shared history.
BBC correspondent Chris Bockman reports from the scoured streets of Limoges.
