A former far-right political candidate who believed a conspiracy theory about the Notre Dame fire tried burning down a French mosque as 'revenge'

• Notre-Dame Cathedral was ablaze in April, and investigators identified an electrical short-circuit as a likely origin of the fire.
• However, a conspiracy theory that the fire was made at the hands of Muslim attackers caught hold with some far-right extremists.
• Claude Sinké, a former candidate for France's far-right National Rally party who believed in the theory, has been charged with attempting to set a mosque in Bayonne, France, on fire, and opening shooting two Muslim men who confronted him.
• He told investigators that the attack was "revenge" for the Notre Dame fire, according to reports.
• Sinké is charged with arson and attempted murder, though prosecutors did not charge him with terrorism offenses.
• Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

When flames engulfed the iconic Notre Dame cathedral earlier this year, conspiracy theories on how the fire started also ignited, one of which led to a "heinous attack" at a mosque in a French city.

The famous cathedral went ablaze in April, and investigators identified an electrical short-circuit as a likely origin of the fire. However, a conspiracy theory that the fire was made at the hands of Muslim attackers caught hold with some extremists, HuffPost reported.

See the rest of the story at Business Insider

NOW WATCH: A podiatrist explains heel spurs, the medical condition Trump said earned him a medical deferment from Vietnam

See Also:

• Inside the world's largest plane, which has a wingspan longer than a football field and a mysterious new owner
• I sit on the Purple seat cushion while I work — it helps improve my posture and makes sitting much more comfortable
• The best mattresses for side sleepers

from Business Insider https://ift.tt/2WV9j7p