Several prisons in France experienced a surge of nighttime attacks, according to Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. The incidents, deemed "intimidation attempts," included vehicular arson and gunfire, stirring up widespread concern regarding security within the prison system. Reports indicate that vehicle fires were set in prison car parks at multiple locations, while the Toulon facility was allegedly targeted with shots from an automatic weapon.
La Parisien highlights six prisons as the focal points of these attacks: Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Valence, Nîmes, Luynes, Villepinte, and Nanterre. In a statement on social media platform X, Darmanin announced his decision to visit Toulon, extending his support to the law enforcement officers involved. While he refrained from placing direct blame on any specific group, he assured the public that the French government was implementing strategies aimed at "profoundly disrupting" existing criminal networks in the wake of these violent acts.
The escalation of violence at these facilities poses a significant challenge for authorities as they navigate the complexities of prison security and the influence of organized crime within France.
