A “foreign delinquent” was arrested following the attack by two police officers on Wednesday evening in Lyon and will be “expelled”, Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Sunday.
“Following the unacceptable attack on the police officers of Lyon, police operations are taking place. One of the offenders is a foreigner, he has been arrested, ”wrote the minister on Twitter. “On my instruction, he was placed in detention and will be expelled. Foreign offenders have no place in France”, continues the Minister.
“Additional means”
The two police officers were injured Wednesday evening in Lyon while trying to arrest a person suspected of theft, in the middle of a crowd who had violently attacked them, according to a police source. On a video of the scene broadcast on social networks, relayed by the Alliance union and the LyonMag news site, we can see three plainclothes police officers, two men and a woman, being beaten and thrown by projectiles in front of the entrance to a convenience store in the sensitive district of La Guillotière, in the city center.
Several political leaders of LR and RN have given their support to the police this week. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, traveling to Vaulx-en-Velin on Friday, had for her part considered that it was necessary “absolutely to be able to sanction these behaviors which are not acceptable”. “You have to respect the Republic and that starts with respecting the police. There will be additional resources. We will naturally put the necessary means and if we need to reinforce in these districts, we will do it, ”she said.