France: What Happened in Marseille on October 17

Hat tip Francois Desouche

The French blog, Francois Desouche, has cross-posted a press release by the Archbishop of Marseille, Jean-Marc Aveline, that an unspecified number of churches in Marseille were attacked during the riots of October 17. In addition, FDesouche has also cross-posted a post by member of European Parliament Laurence Trochu, who goes a step further. She alleges that the majority of the attackers of the churches in Marseille were of immigrant origin, which was not mentioned by the Archbishop.

The below post by FDesouche, the press release by Archbishop Aveline, and the post by Truchu are translated by Fousesquawk. All are contained in the FDesouche link.

Marseille (13)

The Diocese confirms that churches were broken into during the riots of October 17- FDesouche

-By Francois

October 21, 2026 at 01:55

Caption: Reform Church in Marseille on 17 October 2026 in the smoke of trash cans set on fire in the surrounding area. The diocese does not specify which churches were broken into.

Churches were broken into in Marseille during the violence of October 17. Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop of Marseille, reports this in a press release published the following day, along with the looting of businesses, damage to City Hall, ransacking of a police station, and attacks against law enforcement. 

Reacting on October 20 on X, Laurence Trochu denounces the attacks targeting religious sites. The member of the European Parliament believes that they strike at France, her roots, and her identity, and constitute an attack “against our civilization, our roots, and who we are”.

She also describes the rioters and looters as “mostly of immigration background”. This assertion is her own. The diocese press release makes no indication as to the identity or the origin of the perpetrators.

Cardinal Aveline, for his part, expresses his solidarity with those injured and the merchants, victims of the violence, and calls for the return of peace. His press release does not specify either the number or the names of the concerned churches, nor the extent of the damage.

Sources : communiqué du diocèse de Marseille, 18 octobre · message de Laurence Trochu, 20 octobre.

Yesterday, our city, like other cities in France was the scene of unacceptable violence: on the margins of scheduled demonstrations, stores were looted, churches were broken into, City Hall was stormed and damaged, a police station was ransacked, and members of law enforcement were attacked. Along with the entire Church of Marseille, I wish to express my support and my solidarity to the people who were injured and to the merchants who were victims of this vandalism. An appeal to everyone not to get caught up in this spiral of violence. Our city and our country deserve better than that. With all believers, we pray for an end to the disturbances, and that peace will return.

Marseille, 18 October 2026

Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline

Archbishop of Marseille

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I learn with consternation in a press release from the Diocese of Marseille that churches have been attacked during the riots of the last few days.

In attacking our churches, the rioters and looters, mostly of immigrant origin, have crossed a line.  This is a direct attack against France, against our civilization, our roots, and who we are. Let us not be silent about this reality!

-Laurence Trochu