"Security then notified officers from the counter-terrorism bureau who were standing outside"
Good job guys. It would seem they were specifically posted there in the chance that just such an event might occur. And a guy manages to walk in with 2 jerry cans of gas??
Either they weren't paying attention, or weren't properly covering the access points.
We would have to know more about the guy to determine his motives. I also think that the fire at Notre Dame could have been a coincidence or not. It did occur within one of Christianity's Holy weeks, I'm not saying just sayin. Uh, they both did.
Could be anything from a firebug to someone whose mental state was damaged by sexual abuse by a priest.
The Admiral has taken communion at Notre Dame Cathedral more than once. I`m not religious but respect that others are, and the Cathedral is/was without doubt a place of great beauty and tradition.
So far the word about the Notre Dame Cathedral fire cause is building repairs or electrical fault related. I hope it`s nothing more sinister, France has suffered badly in terror attacks.