An arson attempt targeted the grounds of the holiday home belonging to young Émile's grandparents in Haut-Vernet, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, during the night. Several separate fires broke out around the house, but no one was injured. The flames were quickly brought under control by firefighters, who responded to the scene along with gendarmes and the criminal investigation department. The incident occurred around midnight.
A voluntary approach is preferred.
The deliberate nature of the fires is hardly in doubt at this stage of the investigation. The fires were started in several locations around the property, suggesting a deliberate attack targeting the couple's home.
A man was arrested in the early morning
A 78-year-old man was taken into custody this Saturday morning around 6:00 AM. Born in March 1948, he is not originally from Le Vernet and is not believed to reside there. His identity and precise role in the events remain to be established. Investigators must now determine whether he acted alone, whether he knew the occupants of the house, and why the home of Émile's grandparents was targeted.
No one was injured, but there is serious concern.
The fire caused no injuries. The rapid intervention of the emergency services prevented the flames from spreading to the house or neighboring buildings. However, the attempted arson has caused considerable concern in this hamlet, already marked by the Émile case, which has become one of the most closely followed cases in France in recent years.
Haut-Vernet still marked by the disappearance of Émile
As a reminder, Émile Soleil disappeared on July 8, 2023, in Haut-Vernet, shortly after arriving at his grandparents' house for the holidays. Two and a half years old at the time, the little boy had slipped away from the adults in this isolated hamlet in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region. Extensive searches were conducted over several days, involving police, local residents, search dogs, and aircraft. For many months, no trace of the child was found. The subsequent discovery of items related to the child reignited public concern about the case, but did not resolve the many questions surrounding his disappearance.
