In a series of alarming overnight incidents, several French prisons were assaulted with vehicles set ablaze and gunfire directed at facilities. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin characterized the attacks as "intimidation attempts," associating them with a governmental initiative aimed at combating drug trafficking.
According to the Parisien, seven prison establishments were targeted, including locations in Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, Marseille, Valence, and Nîmes in the southern regions, along with Villepinte and Nanterre in proximity to Paris. France's national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office has initiated an investigation into the attacks.
Minister Darmanin shared on X that he was en route to reassure affected law enforcement officials after gunfire struck the Toulon prison. While he refrained from explicitly condemning specific groups, he affirmed that the government's decisive actions against drug trafficking would significantly disrupt criminal enterprises.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau emphasized the necessity for a vigorous response, stating that those assaulting prisons deserve stringent consequences. He has instructed police to bolster security measures within prison facilities. The prison guard union, FO Justice, voiced its profound concern regarding the "extremely serious" assaults and appealed for urgent government intervention to ensure the safety of prison personnel.
These incidents follow a previous act of vandalism where seven vehicles were torched at France's national school of prison administration just a day earlier. The union's statement indicated that it is disconcerting for agents of authority to confront direct assaults on prison property.
Although no group has claimed responsibility, reports indicate that the letters "DDPF," signifying "French prisoners' rights," were found inscribed on damaged cars. Additionally, anarchist slogans were observed at certain locations, raising suspicions of a coordinated effort reflective of the government's stance against drug-related crimes.
As this situation unfolds, a new law is moving through the French parliament, proposing the establishment of a special prosecutor's office focused on drug crimes, also granting investigators enhanced powers.
