French police have arrested Hodei Ciarra Docampo, 34, for the arson that destroyed Limoges’ historic city hall building. The suspect was apprehended at approximately 6:15 a.m. Sunday in Val-d’Issoire, about 31 miles from Limoges.
The fire began on October 17 and consumed the Hôtel de Ville — a monument completed in 1883 and declared a national landmark in 1975. The flames destroyed the entire roof of the building and caused the collapse of its belfry.
Mayor Guillaume Guerin of Limoges described the attack as “premeditated” and stated that no national police officers were present at the town hall when the fire started. He said: “Our city hall is not just a building: it is the common home, the beating heart of our city, and the face of the Republic.”
The suspect has been on France’s state security watch list for years and is suspected of having broken windows to gain entry into the building before igniting it.
Guerin identified the arson as part of a broader pattern of unrest that began in late September in Paris and has since spread across France. The nationwide riots have led to approximately 2,500 arrests.
Hodei Ciarra Docampo previously was convicted in July 2025 for punching a police officer during a demonstration against the proposed Biosyl factory on October 5, 2024. He is also reported to be the son of an arsonist.
French authorities have imposed curfews in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille as violence continues.
