Smoke was seen billowing from the Cathedral of Saint Pierre and Saint Paul In Nantes on Saturday (July 18) following a major fire that blew out stained glass windows and destroyed its grand organ.
Firefighters at the scene were seen spraying water towards the black smoke coming out of the 15th-century building.
Prosecutor Pierre Sennes told reporters three fires had been started at the site and authorities were treating the incident as a criminal act. He gave no other details.
Local fire chief Laurent Ferlay told reporters 104 firemen were still at the site to ensure the blaze was completely under control.
The fire had broken out behind the grand organ, which was completely destroyed, he said.
The blaze comes just over a year after a major fire at the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, which destroyed its roof and main spire.
The cathedral had been partly destroyed during World War Two in 1944 after Allied bombings. In 1972 a fire completely ravaged its roof. It was finally rebuilt 13 years later with a concrete structure replacing the ancient wooden roof.
REUTERS
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To watch a video of the fire, please click on the video below.