Armenian Evangelical Church of Alfortville in France was set on fire at around 6 a.m. on the morning of April 2. The attack was the third in its kind on the church in the last 12 months.
Pastor Gilbert Léonian and his wife, who live on the first floor, woke up as flames started to engulf the structure.
Léonian said that the two were shocked to wake up to the fire. The church’s entrance also sustained substantial damage as a result.
According to reports, a trash bin in front of the church was deliberately set on fire. Firefighters arrived on scene on time to stop the spread of the fire to the rest of the building.
No injuries were reported.
Eight days earlier, stones were thrown against the facade of the church causing some damage. Léonian became the pastor of the church 18 months ago and leads the congregation of about 30 people.
The Mayor of Alfortville Luc Carvounas was quick to condemn the attack and expressed his solidarity with the church’s congregation and leadership.
