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Russian schoolboy suspected of arson of 18th century church in Karelia

The wooden church was completely destroyed by fire

© Ilya Timin/TASS

PETROZAVODSK, August 13. /TASS/. 15-year-old student is suspected of arson of the 18th-century Dormition Church in the city of Kondopoga located in Russia’s northwestern Karelia Region, a police source informed TASS on Monday.

"A 15-year-old schoolboy is suspected of arson. He has mental disabilities. When explaining his actions, he said that he wants to be famous all over the world," the source said.

The source did not provide any additional details. TASS does not have an official confirmation of this data.

According to the Russian Emergencies Ministry’s regional directorate, the fire was reported on August 10 at 09:33 Moscow time and was extinguished at 11:50 Moscow time. The wooden church was completely destroyed by fire.

The Dormition Church, considered to be a federal cultural heritage site, was built in 1774. It was one of the tallest wooden churches in northern Russia. It was 42 meters high, its length was 24 meters and width - 14.6 meters.

According to the Petrozavodsk and Karelia diocese, the building was not owned by the Russian Orthodox Church, and no church services were conducted in it.

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