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French politicians reacted with fury today after a Rwandan refugee allegedly murdered a Roman Catholic priest who was giving him shelter.

Emmanuel Abayisenga, 40, was on bail and awaiting trial for setting fire to Nantes Cathedral last year when today he reportedly confessed to the killing of 60-year-old Father Olivier Maire in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre earlier this morning.

The horrific crime immediately provoked outrage across France, with one politician saying 'an illegal immigrant' can 'set fire to a Cathedral, not be expelled and then reoffend by murdering a priest'.

Another, French senator Bruno Retailleau, asked: 'What was this man still doing in France?'

In an act of compassion, Olivier had welcomed Abayisenga - a devout Catholic - into his community of missionaries in May when he was released from prison on bail.

'He was recently placed under judicial control, and went to live in Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre,' said an investigating source. 'He is said to have carried out the killing on Monday morning, before handing himself into police.

'Early evidence suggests he beat his victim to death,' the source added.

Abayisenga was living with the Montfortian community, which is made up of missionaries devoted to Saint Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort.

Local prosecutors are leading the investigation, indicating the killing is not being treated as an act of terrorism. BFM TV reported the Rwandan had received treatment in a psychiatric hospital during July.

Following today's attack, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted: 'All my support for the Catholics of our country after the dramatic murder of a priest in the Vendée region.'

It was while working as a parish volunteer in Nantes in 2020 that Abayisenga, who arrived in France in 2012, set fire to the medieval Cathedral, causing millions of pounds worth of damage.

The worst damage to Saint Peter and Saint Paul's, which took 400 years to complete, was the 'complete destruction' of the Organ, which dated back to 1621.

Stained glass in part of the building also popped out because of the heat of the blaze.

Abayisenga was still awaiting trial for the Nantes Cathedral arson, but was bailed from prison in May.

Conditions including surrendering his passport, and remaining in France, but he was otherwise free to travel.

Father Olivier, the head of the Montfortian community, had agreed to take Abayisenga in, giving him food and lodging.