Seven French prisons were targeted in a coordinated wave of attacks, including arson and gunfire, prompting an investigation by national authorities. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau underscore the connection to the government's crackdown on drug trafficking as prison guard unions urge immediate protective action for staff.
Coordinated Attacks on French Prisons Raise Security Concerns Amid Drug Crackdown
Coordinated Attacks on French Prisons Raise Security Concerns Amid Drug Crackdown
A series of attacks on multiple French prisons highlights growing tensions linked to governmental efforts against drug trafficking, leading to an urgent call for enhanced security measures.
French prisons have recently experienced a surge of violent incidents, as multiple facilities were targeted in a series of attacks that took place overnight. Reports indicate that vehicles were set ablaze outside several prisons, while one facility came under gunfire from an automatic weapon. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin characterized these assaults as "intimidation attempts" linked to the government’s intensified efforts against drug trafficking.
According to the Parisien newspaper, seven prisons suffered attacks across France, including locations in Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, Marseille, Valence, and Nîmes in the south, as well as Villepinte and Nanterre, close to Paris. The national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office has initiated an investigation into the incidents, which appear to reflect a growing trend of violence against state symbols.
Darmanin announced his visit to the prison in Toulon following the gunfire incident and emphasized the government’s commitment to combatting drug-related crime. While he refrained from directly assigning blame, he asserted that measures being implemented would "profoundly disrupt" existing criminal networks.
Echoing Darmanin’s sentiments, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau declared that the response must be "relentless," insisting that perpetrators of such violence should be incarcerated and monitored by prison staff. In response to the attacks, he directed police to bolster security measures at prison facilities.
The prison guard union, FO Justice, expressed significant concern regarding the safety of prison staff, labeling the attacks as "extremely serious." The union’s communication included images of burnt vehicles and damage inflicted on the Toulon prison, alongside calls for urgent government intervention.
These nighttime attacks follow a similar incident on Sunday, where seven vehicles were set on fire at France’s national school of prison administration, raising alarms about targeted assaults against the agency. Indications from the union suggested a growing audacity among those willing to directly assault state properties, which serve as symbols of authority.
No group has officially claimed responsibility for the overnight attacks; however, reports note the presence of DDPF, an abbreviation for "French prisoners' rights," inscribed on damaged vehicles. Anarchist slogans were also reportedly found at certain sites. Authorities believe these coordinated attacks are "clearly linked" to the government's current strategy against drug trafficking, which is further emphasized by pending legislative measures aimed at establishing a special prosecutor's office dedicated to drug crimes, equipped with enhanced investigative powers.
