French prisons under siege: Arson and gunfire escalate threats
In France, there have been massive attacks on correctional facilities. Prisons were shot at, and cars in parking lots were set on fire, reports BBC News. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that it was an "attempt at intimidation" and linked the attacks to government crackdowns on drug trafficking.
What do you need to know?
- Where did the attacks occur? The attacks took place in several French prisons, including Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Valence, Nîmes, Luynes, Villepinte, and Nanterre.
- What were the forms of attacks? Criminals set vehicles on fire in prison parking lots and fired automatic weapons at prisons.
- The Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin addressed the issue.
According to information provided by "Le Parisien," overnight attacks targeted French prisons. In the parking lots of several correctional facilities, officers' cars were set ablaze, and Toulon prison was shot at with automatic weapons.
Series of attacks on French prisons
"There are attempts at intimidation in the prisons, ranging from vehicle arson to shooting with automatic weapons," Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on platform X on Tuesday. He stated that he is heading to Toulon to "support" the officers.
He emphasized that France is dealing with criminal groups involved in drug trafficking. However, he assured that the government is taking action aimed at significantly disrupting the activities of these criminal networks. "The Republic (...) faces challenges, but it will be firm and courageous," he wrote on platform X.
The attacks on seven correctional facilities, including those in Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Valence, and Nîmes, raise concerns about the security of these locations. The French prosecutor's office, as reported by BBC News, is launching an investigation into the matter.
"Those who attack prisons and officers deserve to be in those prisons," declared French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau via social media.
The FO Justice prison guards' union published photos of burnt vehicles and bullet holes.
The French government announces measures aimed at protecting prisons and preventing similar incidents in the future. However, authorities are not disclosing specific details.
