Firefighters mobilise after shooting near Marseille, assaults on the rise
A firefighter seriously wounded by gunshot in the Mirabeau district has prompted gatherings at several fire stations. Assaults against firefighters increased by 4.3% in 2024, threatening the safety of these frontline workers.
Mobilisation of firefighters following an armed assault
Thousands of firefighters mobilised on Monday 2 November outside fire stations across France in support of their colleagues. According to TF1 Info, this action followed the shooting of a firefighter seriously wounded in the Mirabeau district, in the Bouches-du-Rhône, near Marseille. The incident crystallised frustrations over a growing phenomenon: systematic violence against firefighters on duty.
Melvin, a professional firefighter in Nancy, recounts an assault that occurred two months ago. While attending to a medical emergency, he was attacked by the victim themselves during transport to the ambulance. Although he sustained no physical injuries, the psychological impact remains: "Obviously, when you see your colleagues, all of this, you think about it every day. How far will it go? What if tomorrow, one of us doesn't come back from an intervention?" he confides in the TF1 report.
Mathis, a firefighter, experienced two assaults in less than two years. During the first, a person under the influence of drugs woke up "very aggressive, wanting to break free, hitting us, headbutting us, spitting on us". The second time, a man who had just set fire to his home attacked him. These successive experiences illustrate the variety of threats: verbal, physical, linked to altered states or criminal acts.
Documented increase in violence
The figures confirm the scale of the problem. In 2024, 1,525 assaults against firefighters were recorded, an increase of 4.3% compared to 2023. These acts of violence are varied—verbal, physical and recurring—and affect all frontline personnel. Mickael Biberon, a member of the observatory for violence against firefighters, emphasises that firefighters "represent the State" through their public service missions, which may expose them more to hostility.
Colonel Alexandre Jouassard, interviewed by TF1, recalled that firefighters have implemented a systematic traceability protocol: "A complaint is automatically filed as soon as we have confirmation of a physical or verbal assault on a firefighter on duty." The law treats violence against firefighters as an aggravating circumstance, recognising their status as workers charged with a public service mission.
Despite these measures, frustration on the ground remains palpable. Firefighters continue to question the limits of their protection and the long-term prospects in a context where risks are accumulating.
Source: TF1 Info