Photographer seriously injured by grenade in Paris, police inspectorate investigates
A 25-year-old photographer was seriously injured by a police grenade during a demonstration on 17 October in Paris. The prosecutor's office has opened an investigation whilst his lawyer disputes the charges filed.
Grenade strikes femoral artery
A 25-year-old photographer, Ahmed, was seriously injured by a grenade projectile at Place de la République during a demonstration on 17 October in Paris. According to Actu17, the projectile struck the young man's femoral artery. He lost more than one litre of blood before protesters carried him to an ambulance. After emergency surgery lasting more than three hours, he was "saved in the nick of time". At the time of filing the complaint, he was in intensive care.
Investigation assigned to the police inspectorate
The Paris prosecutor's office announced on Saturday that it had opened an investigation for "violence by a person holding public authority, followed by mutilation or permanent disability, during a demonstration in a public place". The investigation has been assigned to the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN). The investigation opens alongside a complaint with constitution of civil party status, in order to avoid any loss of evidence, the public prosecutor's office specified.
Disagreement over charges
The victim's lawyer, Maître Arié Alimi, filed a complaint on Thursday for "attempted voluntary homicide". The charges also include "voluntary violence resulting in mutilation or permanent disability, committed by a group, by a person holding public authority, with the use of a weapon". The lawyer contested the prosecutor's choice. "He nearly died. The police did not help him by letting him bleed out on the pavement," Maître Alimi stated. He criticised the Paris prosecutor's office for having "initially refused any communication and rejected the opening of a preliminary investigation". According to him, the charges filed "have no purpose other than to protect the Paris prefect and the Interior Minister".
Broader context
On Friday, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez indicated that eight investigations had already been opened by the IGPN for incidents occurring on 17 and 18 October. The outcome of the photographer's medical treatment remains uncertain: doctors cannot at this stage confirm whether he will retain the use of his leg.
Source: Actu17