Armed Attacks and Fires Hit French Prisons… Justice Minister Announces Emergency Measures
Armed Attacks and Fires Hit French Prisons… Justice Minister Announces Emergency Measures
French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin confirmed that vehicles were set on fire at a prison in the Tarascon area in southern France early Wednesday morning.
On Tuesday, the minister announced that several prisons across France had been attacked overnight. He stated his intention to visit the city of Toulon in the south, where the prison was among the targeted sites.
In a statement on the platform X, Darmanin said: “There have been attempts to intimidate staff at several prisons, ranging from vehicle arson to automatic weapons fire.” He added, “I will be heading to Toulon to support the officers involved,” emphasizing that France is facing major challenges due to drug trafficking and is taking action aimed at significantly disrupting criminal networks.
Targets of the Nighttime Prison Attacks
Tuesday night saw a series of scattered attacks on various prison facilities and their surroundings. Reports highlighted fires targeting vehicles and entrance doors at the prisons of:
Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Valence, Nîmes, Loos, Villepinte, and Nanterre.
The central prison in Toulon was subjected to automatic gunfire, marking the most severe escalation so far.
Fires at Detention Centers
Three vehicles were set on fire in the parking lot of the Villepinte remand center near Paris, two of which belonged to prison officers. Meanwhile, Riom Prison was attacked on Monday, and the National School for Prison Administration in Agen was attacked on Sunday.
France’s War on Drugs
Local media indicated that the attacks appear to be coordinated and connected to Paris’s anti-drug trafficking strategy, while police continue to explore all possibilities.
Officials also reported that anarchist slogans were found on some of the burned vehicles.
In a statement from the prison workers’ union FO Justice, it was confirmed that the attacks included vehicle fires, arson targeting entrance doors, and even the use of heavy weaponry. Security authorities continue to investigate the circumstances of these incidents.
