Arson in the Émile case: Grandparents no longer feel safe It is still unclear who set fire to the foyer of the Émile institution in the night of Wednesday to Thursday. The blaze broke out shortly after midnight and caused major damage in the building on the Dorpsstraat, where the grandparents of several residents have their weekly meetings. “We were right here last Tuesday evening,” says Henk van Dijk, 78, who comes to Émile every week with his wife to meet other grandparents and relatives. “We leave feeling safe. And now this happens. You don’t expect something like that in our village.” The fire brigade was able to extinguish the fire quickly, but not before smoke and water had done significant damage to the common areas. No people were injured; the residents slept in their rooms, protected by automatic systems. Police launched an investigation into arson. Officers are now combing through surveillance footage and speaking to potential witnesses. “We are treating this as a deliberate act,” said a spokesperson for the regional police. “Anyone with information is asked to come forward.” The Émile institution provides care and housing for about thirty people with intellectual disabilities. After the fire, the organization arranged for temporary meeting spaces and extra security measures. “We want to reassure families and residents,” said director Marlies Jansen. “Their safety is our priority.” The grandparents’ weekly meeting has been an important social moment for years, they say. “It’s where we share news, support each other and sometimes organize small events,” says Van Dijk. “Now we are worried. Who could do this and why?” Local politicians condemned the attack. Mayor Pieter Vos called the act “shocking” and promised to support both the institution and the investigation. “There is no place for intimidation or violence in our community,” he said. For now, Émile is assessing the full extent of the damage and working with authorities on repairs and security improvements. The community is rallying around the residents and their families, but the grandparents say the sense of safety they once had has been seriously shaken.

The case of little Émile has been shaking France again and again for years. Now a new development in the quiet Haut-Vernet is causing unrest once more — and this time the grandparents’ house is at the center.

A 78-year-old man is in police custody. Investigators suspect him of having tried to set fire to the family’s holiday home of Émile. The measure was extended on Sunday and, according to French law, could last until Monday morning at 6 a.m.

The events took place on the night of May 15 to 16. Several separate ignition points were discovered around the vacant house. Firefighters were able to contain the flames in time before greater damage occurred. Ever since, the village has been gripped by a peculiar mixture of fear and bewilderment. Haut-Vernet, a small place in the Alps, normally hears cowbells rather than sirens.

What is particularly distressing: the arrested retiree is said to have booked a hotel room in the area the day before. According to investigators, he had specifically inquired about the family’s address. When he was arrested, officers also noticed a strong smell of gasoline on his clothing. It sounds like something out of a crime novel — sadly not on television.

Émile’s grandparents now speak openly about feeling “in danger.” After months of public attention, rumors and speculation, this alleged attack hits the family especially hard. Many people in the village had hoped to slowly find peace again. Instead, the fear flares up once more.

The name Émile continues to stand in France as a symbol for a case full of mysteries. The boy’s disappearance caused nationwide headlines and led to a massive search operation. Every new twist immediately ignites new debates, new suspicions and new newspaper headlines.

Investigators are now trying to determine what the motive was behind the alleged arson. So far there have been no official statements. The only thing that seems clear is that the incident marks a new escalation phase in an already emotionally charged case.

In Haut-Vernet many residents now double-lock their doors at night. Some say quietly that the village has lost its innocence.

Daniel Ivers