Marseille: minors use fire as weapon of protest
In Marseille, several schools and firefighters have been targeted by arson attacks carried out by young protesters without criminal records, marking a worrying escalation.
Escalation of arson attacks in Marseille
According to Le Figaro, a series of fire attacks has targeted schools, firefighters and social workers in Marseille and its surroundings during high school mobilisations. These violent acts, often committed by minors without a criminal record, mark a normalisation of the use of arson as a form of protest.
On 1 October, a vehicle belonging to the Marseille naval firefighters battalion (BMPM) was set alight by several hooded young individuals in front of a secondary school. Meanwhile, a care worker was attacked with inflammable spray in the city, an act that led to the arrest of the suspect, a 15-year-old pupil. These images struck public opinion and signalled a turning point: the systematic use of fire during protests.
The practice is not limited to aerosols. Within days, young people were observed handling hydrocarbons and flammable products, often during high school blockades. According to Le Figaro, these actions are sometimes aimed at expressing anger, sometimes at having fun, sometimes at aggressing others gratuitously. This normalisation of arson attacks, carried out by individuals without criminal records, is causing particular concern among the authorities in the region.
Source: Le Figaro