A French nun fed up with a group of protesters tackled one of the demonstrators after he tried to run off with what appeared to be piping materials.
The nun was part of a congregation of sisters from the Missionary Family of Notre Dame who formed a human chain around the construction site to prevent the environmentalists from disrupting the workers.
Members of the eco-group Les Amis de la Bourges set up a demonstration against a new religious complex due to be built in Saint-Pierre-de-Colombier, southern France.
The two groups mounted a stand-off near the site which reached its apex when the incensed nun tackled the protestor as he tried to run off with some building materials.
Sylvain Hérenguel, the co-president of the Association for the Future of the Bourges Valley, said he was surprised by the nun’s reaction.
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Speaking to France 3, Hérenguel said: “I didn’t expect that. I expected the nuns to be a little reasonable for the public order.
“The problem is that the religious people decided to resort to violence. I was attacked three times by five people, who snatched me, and wanted to throw me out there. They decided to protect the site with their actions and their bodies.”
Once the nun was pried off the protester, she rejoined her sisters and resumed their peaceful protest while singing to block out the eco-mob’s chanting.
The environmentalists have been opposing the creation of a new basilica out of concern that several rare species of plants could be lost because they’re not properly protected.
Hérenguel continued: “There is reseda of jackfruit noted by the French Biodiversity Office. And it is not in the environmental study on which the Prefect relied to restart the construction site.
“They do not have authorisation to destroy the habitats of protected species.”
He then added: “We want to defend agricultural land that could be used for future generations.
“We need to put things back on track and enforce environmental law.”
Construction of the new religious building, which could host up to 3,500 people, began in 2018 but has since been the subject of heavy criticism from residents.
The prefecture of Ardéche suspended building works until Thursday evening following the incident.
The sisters had planned their vigil at the site after the eco-protesters stormed the construction site last week.
Members of the Missionary Family and of Les Amis de la Bourges will be meeting with the prefect on Thursday to discuss their complaints although the environmentalists have already pledged to resume their protests should the building pick up again.
