Fire at Limoges Town Hall: what we know about the environmental activist flagged as "S" arrested on Tuesday

The arson of Limoges City Hall, inaugurated in 1883, has drawn global attention, especially the collapse of its 43-meter bell tower. Following three days of investigation, authorities identified a suspect, Hodei C. D., a 34-year-old carpenter, believed to have set the fire after entering the building with protesters. He was arrested on October 20 at his parents' home in Haute-Vienne. Details about the charges remain scarce, and he is presumed innocent pending further legal proceedings. Hodei C. D. has a history of radical ecological activism and a prior conviction for assaulting a police officer during a protest in 2026.