A view of the debris caused by a fire inside the Cathedral of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Nantes, France, July 18, 2020. REUTERS / Stephane Mahe
NANTES, France (Reuters) – French police released a 39-year-old Rwandan refugee from all suspicions on Sunday and released him after questioning the man about a fire at the 15th-century cathedral in the French city of Nantes.
“He is not involved. The inconsistencies that have emerged have been clarified, “Nantes prosecutor Pierre Sennes told Reuters.
The fire engulfed the interior of the gothic structure in flames on Saturday, destroying a large organ, stained glass, and a painting.
Authorities opened an investigation for alleged arson. Sennes said Saturday that three fires had started at the site and there were no signs of trespassing.
The man who was arrested Saturday was volunteering for the cathedral and had been in charge of closing the building on Friday night. He had been detained to clear up inconsistencies in his schedule. It was not identified.
The fire occurred just over a year after a fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris destroyed the roof and main spire.
Reports by Guillaume Frouin, John Irish and Patrick Vignal; Barbara Lewis and Peter Cooney edition
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