The inferno that has engulfed the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris has been seized upon by far right provocateurs to spread anti-Muslim hate and conspiracies, even as officials said they have ruled out arson as the cause.

Even before the blaze brought the centuries-old steeple and roof crashing to the earth on Monday, conspiracy-minded conservatives on Twitter began declaring the cause to be terrorism — and using the world-renowned landmark as a symbol to push western Christian rhetoric.

The comments online came as authorities in Paris ruled out any terror-related motives as the cause of the blaze, as firefighters continued to battle the fire that was expected to burn the entire church to the ground, leaving just the stone walls behind.

"If the Nortre [sic] Dame fire serves to spur the White man into action—to sieze [sic] power in his countries, in Europe, in the world—then it will have served a glorious purpose and we will one day bless this catastrophe," wrote Richard Spencer, an alt-right commentator.

As mourners gathered in Paris singing hymns, Jack Posobiec — an alt-right troll and conspiracy theorist — likened the flames to a 9/11 attack for Catholics, in spite of a lack of evidence that the blaze was set intentionally, let alone as an attack on Catholicism.

Notre Dame burns: in pictures Show all 45 1 /45 Notre Dame burns: in pictures Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames on the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, 15 April 2019. A fire started in the late afternoon in one of the most visited monuments of the French capital. EPA Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Notre Dame burns: in pictures Firefighter douse flames billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures This general view taken from Montparnasse Tower shows flames and smoke as they billow from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on 15 April, 2019. AFP/Getty Notre Dame burns: in pictures People look at smoke and flames rising during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures People react as they watch flames engulf the roof of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral in the French capital. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures People cry and pray as they look at flames burning the roof of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. EPA Notre Dame burns: in pictures Sparks and flames are seen through a destroyed stained glass window as the Notre Dame Cathedral burns. REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures A view of Notre-Dame Cathedral on fire as seen from Montmartre in the east on 15 April, 2019 in Paris, France. Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures An onlooker uses a telescope to film the fire at the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures A man watches the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burn, engulfed in flames, in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures The steeple of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral collapses as the cathedral is engulfed in flames in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures The landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral is engulfed by flames in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billow and flames burn from the roof of the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures People watch from a bridge as smoke billows from Notre Dame Cathedral during a fire in Paris, France REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures Bystanders look on as flames and smoke billow from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures Bystanders look on as flames and smoke billow from Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures People watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burns in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. AP Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames rise from Notre Dame cathedral as it burns in Paris, Monday, April 15, 2019. Massive plumes of yellow brown smoke is filling the air above Notre Dame Cathedral and ash is falling on tourists and others around the island that marks the center of Paris. AP Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billows as fire engulfs the spire of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. - A major fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky, the fire service said. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year, where renovations are currently underway. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures People watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke rises as people watch the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral burning in central Paris on April 15, 2019. - A huge fire swept through the roof of the famed Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, sending flames and huge clouds of grey smoke billowing into the sky. The flames and smoke plumed from the spire and roof of the gothic cathedral, visited by millions of people a year. A spokesman for the cathedral told AFP that the wooden structure supporting the roof was being gutted by the blaze. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said.Images posted on social media showed flames and huge clouds of smoke billowing above the roof of the gothic cathedral, the most visited historic monument in Europe. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke billows from the Notre Dame Cathedral after a fire broke out, in Paris, France REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smoke and flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures A statue of Saint John is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019. REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures A statue is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019 REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures A statue of Saint John is removed from the spire of Notre Dame cathedral by a crane before restoration work, in Paris, France, April 11, 2019 REUTERS Notre Dame burns: in pictures Handout photo taken with permission from the twitter feed of @slopezserra of smoke pouring from Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which is on fire PA Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Smokes ascends as flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames rise during a fire at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris on April 15, 2019 afternoon, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images Notre Dame burns: in pictures Flames and smoke are seen billowing from the roof at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris on April 15, 2019. - A fire broke out at the landmark Notre-Dame Cathedral in central Paris, potentially involving renovation works being carried out at the site, the fire service said. AFP/Getty Images

“Many Catholics are saying Notre Dame feels like 9/11 did. Of course they don't mean there is a literal comparison, but to many of us, the images of beloved icons engulfed in flames and falling draws the same visceral emotions of loss and anger,” Mr Posobiec wrote.

Paul Joseph Watson, an alt-right media personality known for his work on YouTube and with the conspiracy site InfoWars, followed suit by amplifying a tweet from French far-right troll Damien Rue, who posted a video appearing to show Facebook users with names commonly used by Muslims responding to video of the fire with laugh and smiley emojis.

“A brief summary of who is responding to the tragic Notre Dame fire with 'smiley faces' on Facebook. Appalling,” Mr Watson wrote.

The attempt to capitalise on these events by the likes of these individuals — and others on Twitter with fewer followers, but potentially massive reach — illustrates a common tactic used by far right provocateurs who use major news events to spread their messages of hate.

Platforms like Twitter have become common grounds for internet trolls to spread disinformation, and tech companies have received frequent criticism in recent years for what has been frequently viewed as lacklustre attempts to address the problem.

That perceived indifference was seen again on Monday, too, when a CNN executive noted that an imposter account for his news network had tweeted to say that CNN had confirmed the cause of the Notre Dame fire to be terrorism. Twitter, however, refused to take down the tweet.