A series of violent attacks unfolded overnight at multiple prisons across France, where vehicles were set ablaze and gunfire from automatic weapons was reported at one facility. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin characterized these incidents as “intimidation attempts” and suggested a connection to the government’s vigorous efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Details of the attacks and government response
According to reports from the Parisien newspaper, seven prisons were targeted during this wave of violence. The affected locations include Toulon, Aix-En-Provence, Marseille, Valence, and Nîmes in southern France, as well as Villepinte and Nanterre near the capital, Paris. In light of the severity of the situation, France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation.
In a statement on the social media platform X, Darmanin announced his plans to visit the Toulon prison, which was specifically hit by gunfire. While he did not directly attribute blame for the attacks, he asserted that the French government is “facing up to the problem of drug trafficking” and is enacting measures that aim to “profoundly disrupt” organized crime networks.
Union reactions and security measures
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau emphasized the need for a “relentless” governmental response to these attacks. He declared, “Those who attack prisons and officers deserve to be locked up in those prisons and monitored by those officers,” reaffirming the need for heightened security measures. Retailleau has mandated police to bolster security at prison facilities immediately.
The prison guard union, FO Justice, expressed profound concern and anger over the “extremely serious” overnight attacks. The union shared updates via X, displaying images of charred vehicles within prison parking areas and bullet holes puncturing the entrance gate of the Toulon prison. They advocated for urgent government action to safeguard prison personnel.
The recent incidents follow a similar attack on Sunday, where seven vehicles were set on fire at France’s national school of prison administration. The union remarked on the worrying trend of individuals feeling emboldened to directly assault prison properties, a significant representation of state authority.
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. However, the Parisien notes that the letters DDPF, which stand for “French prisoners’ rights,” were found inscribed on some damaged vehicles. Additionally, anarchist slogans were discovered at several locations. A source close to the investigation indicated that the attacks seemed coordinated and appeared to be “clearly linked” to the government’s anti-drug strategy.
Amid these tensions, legislation is advancing through the French parliament aimed at establishing a special prosecutor’s office to tackle drug-related crime, which would grant new powers to investigators.