Police station fire in Bordeaux: investigation launched for attempted murder
A branch of Bordeaux's central police station was set on fire on Thursday following a secondary-school student demonstration. The prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into aggravated voluntary homicide attempts against three officers who were present.
Fire and violence following the demonstration
According to BFM TV, the Bordeaux prosecutor's office extended its investigation on Friday following a fire at a city-centre police station that occurred on Thursday during a secondary-school student demonstration. Charges have been expanded to include "aggravated voluntary homicide attempts" targeting the three officers who were present at the scene.
Course of events
The secondary-school student demonstration had taken place peacefully along the authorised route. The situation escalated when "several dozen individuals with covered and masked faces" initiated violence. Numerous bin fires were lit, and police forces came under fire from mortars and projectile attacks before responding with tear-gas grenades.
The attack on the police station
The central police station's branch was targeted. Three police officers were present — two inside and one outside. The prosecutor clarified that the officer outside "was set upon and pursued by a group of individuals", while others set fire to bins in front of the building entrance, "unable to ignore" that two officers were attempting to leave and were still inside. The fire spread across part of the building's façade before being contained.
Classification of the charges
After hearing from the three officers, the prosecutor's office expanded the emergency inquiry. The "aggravated voluntary homicide attempts" charges carry a sentence of life imprisonment.
Source: BFM TV