Far-right violence on 24 October: investigations opened in Nice and Montpellier
Far-right activists assaulted protesters in several French cities on 24 October. The judiciary has been engaged in Nice and Montpellier.
Far-right activists implicated following 24 October demonstrations
Judicial investigations have been opened in Nice and Montpellier after far-right activists attacked protesters during the social mobilisations of 24 October, according to huffingtonpost.fr. Footage filmed in several cities shows masked individuals dressed in black rushing upon processions.
Nice: eleven arrested, flagrante delicto investigation opened
In Nice, the prosecutor announced on Sunday 25 October the opening of an investigation entrusted to the Local Judicial Police Service (SLPJ 06). "An investigation in flagrante delicto entrusted to the SLPJ 06 is open to identify and apprehend members of this movement involved in the aggravated violence that took place in the city centre," declared the Republic's prosecutor Damien Martinelli in a statement.
Martinelli specified his desire to "provide an extremely firm response to these acts of violence," indicating that investigations are based on images captured on Saturday. Among the 59 people held in custody that day in Nice — principally for "participation in a grouping with a view to the commission of acts of violence" — 11 individuals are suspected of belonging to the far-right movement.
These eleven people were arrested before the violence occurred, aboard two vehicles. "Some were in possession of masks, gloves, tear gas canisters and batons," added the prosecutor's office. Five of them were already known to police services.
Montpellier: the mayor refers the matter to the judiciary
In Montpellier, mayor Michaël Delafosse announced his intention to refer the matter to the Republic's prosecutor following the eruption of a group of far-right activists during the demonstration. "An extreme-right militia used violence against protesters yesterday in the streets of Montpellier. I condemn these actions in the strongest terms and demand that justice investigates and apprehends those responsible," he wrote on social network X.
Delafosse confirmed to ICI Hérault his intention to file a formal report with the prosecutor's office.
Rouen, Tours, Lyon: other incidents recorded
Videos showing violence in other cities are circulating on social media, without the judiciary being seized in these localities for the moment. The media outlet Blast broadcast images showing "extreme-right identitarians" attacking "protesters with impunity before police" in Rouen.
In Tours, the daily newspaper La Nouvelle République reported clashes between extreme-right and extreme-left activists. In Lyon, several media outlets observed a march of far-right activists chanting identitarian slogans, without any violence being reported.
The Interior Ministry responds
"In several cities including Nice, Montpellier, Nancy, and around ten others, groups of far-right activists set themselves the task of protecting shops and, more frequently in reality, sought confrontation with ultra-left activists," declared the Interior Ministry on Sunday.
The ministry specified that in the cities concerned, "law enforcement generally intervened, either to disperse these groups or to prevent confrontations between antagonistic groups." National intelligence coordinator Laurent Nuñez asked prefects to refer the matter to the judiciary, warning that "administrative consequences could also follow."
The day before, Nuñez had already mentioned "in at least two cities, the presence of far-right activists seeking to confront ultra-left activists," describing the phenomenon as "unprecedented in a demonstration."
Source: Google News LU FR