• Car driving through the crowd, intrusions, damage ... Places of worship are exposed to many threats.

  • In Loire-Atlantique, as in Carquefou near Nantes, the gendarmerie secures the churches as the holidays approach.

When she arrives in the morning, alone in the dark, she quickly lights the crib and candles to reassure herself. At the church of Saint-Pierre de Carquefou, near Nantes, the secretary of the parish Jocelyne Poirier always has her cell phone on and a "little stick" not far away when she opens the doors of the church. "We are on the alert," confirms Father Guillaume Le Floc'h. Since the attack in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, we have been very vigilant to anything that can happen, especially with the approach of Christmas masses. "

Over the next few days, some 2,000 faithful are expected to sit on the pews of this 19th century church.

So, as in places of worship throughout the department, the gendarmes came to the site to make recommendations.

The first will be to install additional studs on the forecourt, where a “malicious” driver could easily break in.

"We will have to ask people to disperse quickly at the exit, in order to avoid large gatherings", continues the security correspondent of the autonomous territorial brigade of Carquefou.

At the entrance, parishioners will play the service of order, in particular to "spot suspicious behavior and individuals", such as those who show up with a big bag.

The gendarmes will target their patrols and will be "ready to intervene" in the event of an alert.

A network of burglars of sacred art objects

But the terrorist threat is not the only one hanging over places of worship.

Damage to stained glass or cribs, graffiti on facades or theft of all kinds are regularly reported.

Three years ago, a departmental convention was signed with the diocese to strengthen ties, following the dismantling of a network of burglars of sacred art objects in Loire-Atlantique.

"A complete inventory of the objects was then carried out, and we secured all the churches and presbyteries", details the departmental security adjutant.

In Carquefou for example, where a clock was stolen a few years ago, several CCTV cameras have been installed.

In other religious buildings, valuables have been sealed, locks added, and behavior has evolved.

"The money of the trunks is raised more regularly, and always with several", notes the gendarmerie.

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  • Nantes

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