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Notre-Dame de Paris suicide a political act - Marine Le Pen Venner suicide at Notre-Dame 'political' - Le Pen
(about 3 hours later)
France's far-right party leader Marine Le Pen has paid tribute to the man who killed himself in the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, saying it was a "political act". French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has said a suicide on Tuesday in Notre-Dame Cathedral was "political", in a remark condemned by the ruling party.
Ms Le Pen, who heads the National Front, said it was aimed at "waking up the people of France". Ms Le Pen, who heads the National Front, said Dominique Venner, an award-winning far-right historian, had sought to "wake up the people of France".
The man was named as Dominique Venner, an award-winning far-right historian. Mr Venner condemned both same-sex marriage and Islamist influence in France in writings before his death.
In his blog written shortly before his suicide on Tuesday, he criticised a new law legalising gay marriage. Socialist Party chief Harlem Desir said he was shocked by Ms Le Pen's words.
Mass evacuation Describing his death as the "gesture of a far-right marginal", he said the National Front leader had "seemed to justify" his suicide. Such violence was, he said, "very revealing".
Mr Venner, 78, walked up to the altar of Notre-Dame, one of the most-visited attractions in France, and shot himself in the mouth with a single-shot pistol on Tuesday afternoon, in front of some 1,500 visitors.
About 100 sympathisers later gathered outside the cathedral to pay tribute to the former Algerian War veteran and far-right militant, who had made a career writing history books.
'Protest against decay'
"All respect to Dominique Venner whose final, eminently political act was to try to wake up the people of France," Ms Le Pen wrote on Twitter."All respect to Dominique Venner whose final, eminently political act was to try to wake up the people of France," Ms Le Pen wrote on Twitter.
She later added that "it is in life and hope that France will renew and save itself". "It is in life and hope that France will renew and save itself," she later added.
Bruno Gollnisch, another National Front member, said that Mr Venner's "dramatic act was a protest against the decay of our society", according to the AFP news agency. Bruno Gollnisch, another National Front member, said Mr Venner's "dramatic act was a protest against the decay of our society".
Mr Venner, 78, pulled out a gun and shot himself through the mouth beside the main altar shortly after 16:00 (14:00 GMT) on Tuesday - in front of some 1,500 visitors at the cathedral. Mr Desir condemned Ms Le Pen in an interview for French broadcaster Canal Plus.
The police said he had made no statement before killing himself, although a note was found next to his body. They did not disclose its contents. "Now that the law has been passed, opponents of marriage for everyone should understand that it is the law of the Republic," he said.
Just hours earlier, Mr Venner wrote on his blog a damning critique of the same-sex marriage bill. The police said Mr Venner had made no statement before killing himself, although a note was found next to his body. They did not disclose its contents.
"New spectacular and symbolic actions are needed to wake up the sleepwalkers and shake the anaesthetised consciousness. Just hours earlier, Mr Venner had bitterly criticised the same-sex marriage act on his blog, saying it was as "disastrous" for France as the prospect of Islamist rule.
"We are entering a time when acts must follow words." After his death, a friend read out a message from the dead man on a conservative radio station, Radio Courtoisie, where he used to broadcast.
Mr Venner was also a former member of the Secret Army Organisation (OAS), which opposed Algerian independence in the early 1960s and tried to assassinate President Charles De Gaulle. "I believe it is necessary to sacrifice myself to break with the lethargy that is overwhelming us," he was quoted as saying in the message.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says Notre-Dame is the most visited landmark in France, attracting more than 13 million visitors each year, but security is relatively relaxed. "I am killing myself to awaken slumbering consciences."
It would not be difficult to conceal a weapon in a shoulder bag, he says. Mr Venner once served time in prison for his activities with the Secret Army Organisation (OAS), which opposed Algerian independence in the early 1960s and tried to assassinate President Charles De Gaulle.
The cathedral is celebrating its 850th year. The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says Notre-Dame attracts more than 13 million visitors each year, but security is relatively relaxed. It would not be difficult to conceal a weapon in a shoulder bag, he says.
"It's unfortunate, it's dramatic, it's shocking," the rector of Notre-Dame, Monsignor Patrick Jacquin, told the Associated Press news agency. The rector of Notre-Dame, Monsignor Patrick Jacquin, said it appeared to be the first suicide in decades at the cathedral. A few people had jumped to their deaths from Notre-Dame's twin towers, but no-one was thought to have killed themselves at the altar before, he added.
This was the first suicide in decades at the cathedral, he said. A few people had jumped to their deaths from Notre-Dame's twin towers, but no-one was thought to have killed themselves at the altar before, he added. Mr Venner's death sharply divided opinion on social media in France. On Twitter, most of the comments appeared to be negative, with some dismissing his suicide as an act of "terrorism" or labelling him a "Nazi". Others expressed admiration, with one describing him as a patriot who had died "for his fatherland and its lost values".
"We will pray for this man, as for so many others at their end."