Following the clashes of October 24 in Nice city center, the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Jean-Marie Girier, reported 40 individuals linked to the far-right to the public prosecutor. A flagrante delicto investigation has been opened to identify the persons involved in the violence. The representative of the State also announces a specific police operation to prevent further clashes.
The violence that occurred on Saturday, October 24 in Nice is the subject of judicial investigations. While demonstrations were banned in the city center, clashes occurred between individuals from the far-right and protesters, including some members of the far-left.
On the basis of Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes reported to the public prosecutor the identification of 40 individuals linked to the far-right. The report is based on identity checks and information gathered from videos posted online.
According to the prefecture, some of the identified persons are already known to intelligence services or judicial services, notably for facts related to violent football hooliganism. The individuals reported may have participated in the violence committed in the city center.
A flagrante delicto investigation was opened on October 25 by the public prosecutor to identify and apprehend the persons involved in this aggravated violence.
On the day of the events, approximately a hundred individuals, mostly hooded, had been spotted north of the city center, outside the demonstration ban perimeter. Presented on social media as a group tasked with protecting shops against possible vandalism, this gathering apparently mainly sought confrontation with protesters, according to information provided by the prefecture.
In a complex law and order context, the national police made eleven arrests of individuals from the far-right. The persons concerned were in possession of pepper spray, knuckle dusters and hoods.
Jean-Marie Girier announces a specific police operation this Saturday
Faced with this violence, the prefect of Alpes-Maritimes, Jean-Marie Girier, reaffirmed the position of the State and announced measures to prevent further clashes: “Violent fringe groups will never have a place in the Republic and law enforcement protects none of them.”
A specific operation by the national police is to be implemented on Saturday to prevent violence and apprehend groups that attempt to physically attack protesters.
Jean-Marie Girier also announced a systematic judicial and administrative response in case of violence or vandalism: “Physical violence and vandalism, from wherever they come, will always be met with a firm response from the State which will systematically engage all judicial and administrative procedures to identify and condemn the perpetrators.”
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