Arson during French protests largely destroyed Limoges’s town hall, collapsing the roof and damaging two-thirds of the exterior. Maurice Barate called the deliberate act a heritage catastrophe; masked protesters entered after torching a police car.

His work drew legions of fans to an online forum, which the Nevada Republican has tried to turn into a galvanizing force as he tries to unseat a Democrat in a Las Vegas area district that could help decide House control. O’Donnell has served as the group’s de facto leader, referring to himself as its “benevolent dictator” while tapping its members for campaign cash and harnessing their enthusiasm in his bid. The campaign held a two-day event for forum members this month at a casino that included a video game tournament, panel discussions and speeches.