Man arrested in Forbach church after shouting religious phrases
Man arrested in Forbach church; charged with terrorism apology and weapons possession.
Event / Conflict
France Church Terrorism Arrest
A 35-year-old man was arrested on September 9, 2025, at Saint-Rémi church in Forbach after making inflammatory statements while carrying a knife. He was charged with apology for terrorism, weapons possession, and drug use. No violence occurred during the peaceful arrest.
3 reported locations
Daily activity
1 articles0 articles
2026-09-09 to 2026-11-06 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 9 Sept, 15:31 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
No physical violence or damage occurred during church incident
The parish priest confirmed that no assault, violence, or property damage occurred in the church during the incident. Police intervention proceeded without incident and the arrest was carried out calmly.
Papal visit to France scheduled for late September
Pope Leo XIV is scheduled to visit France on September 28, 2025, with a stop in Metz. The church incident occurred weeks before this planned visit.
35-year-old man arrested in Forbach church after shouting religious phrases
A 35-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 in Saint-Rémi church in Forbach, Moselle, after being reported by parents of nearby schoolchildren who heard him shouting while appearing to search for the priest. The man was carrying an Opinel-type knife that was not brandished, and possessed a small quantity of cannabis resin. He was taken into custody at Forbach police station.
Suspect had no prior terrorism-related convictions or intelligence service records
The 35-year-old, born in 1991 in former Yugoslavia, was unknown to French territorial intelligence services and was not on an S-file (security watch list). His criminal record contained two prior offenses unrelated to terrorism or threats to state interests. The parish priest did not know him.
Police searched suspect's residence in neighboring town
A search warrant was executed at the residence of the suspect's mother in Stiring-Wendel, where the man lived, as part of the ongoing investigation.
Man charged with apology for terrorism, weapons possession, and drug use
The arrested man was charged with apology for terrorism, illegal weapons possession, and drug use. He was placed in police custody pending potential extension of detention for further questioning regarding his religious background and psychological profile.
Local mayor condemns church incident and praises alert response
Forbach mayor Alexandre Cassaro issued a statement condemning the act as cowardly and heinous, noting it could have had serious consequences. He praised the courage and awareness of the teenage girls who alerted authorities and the swift police response.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives