A suspect indicted after the fire on the porch of the Bordeaux City Hall

The images shocked the inhabitants of the city, and far beyond. A suspect was indicted after the arson of the porch of the town hall of Bordeaux Thursday evening, during incidents following the demonstration against the pension reform, announced the prosecution. The public prosecutor specifies in a press release that he has requested the “placement in provisional detention” of this man, “against whom there were serious and consistent indications of participation in these facts”.

On Friday, the prosecution announced that it had placed five people in police custody after the fire. He indicated that one of the suspects had been seen “throwing a garbage can on fire” to “feed the fireplace” and arrested near the town hall.

Appearance Monday

“Participation in the facts of the fire” has not, however, been “sufficiently established at this stage” against the four other people placed in police custody, adds the prosecution. For three of them, adults, he requested an appearance Monday before the criminal court for “participation in an armed crowd and with the face partially or totally concealed”.

The last of the five in custody, who is a minor, “has also been referred for judgment on guilt before the juvenile court”, specifies the prosecution.

Charles III was to be received on the spot

The fire lasted about fifteen minutes Thursday evening, damaging the massive wooden door of the building, before being extinguished by firefighters. King Charles III of England was to be received next Tuesday at Bordeaux City Hall, but the Élysée announced Friday the cancellation of his visit.

Thursday’s demonstration brought together between 18,000 and 110,000 people in Bordeaux, according to the prefecture and the inter-union. For the first time in this city since the start of the movement against the pension reform as part of a declared procession, tear gas was used on Thursday by the police against groups of masked young people throwing projectiles and setting barricades on fire.

These incidents resulted in 16 minor injuries, according to the Bordeaux prosecutor’s office, including 12 police officers. Nine people, all adults, were arrested for excesses on the sidelines of the demonstration and were referred on Saturday, said the prosecution.

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