The helmet and hearing protection he was wearing were not enough. With the explosion, it even flew away, causing serious consequences. On Sunday, a CRS who was trying to supervise a group of anti-fascists wishing to prevent the holding of a meeting by Jordan Bardella was seriously injured in the ear by mortar fire. Hospitalized at CHU Pontchaillou, the policeman saw the projectile explode right next to his left ear. When he left the hospital, he still had total deafness, learned 20 minutes this Monday.
Member of company number 61 based in Vélizy (Yvelines), the 31-year-old CRS was in Bruz on Sunday. It is in this town near Rennes (Ille-et-Vilaine) that the interim president of the National Rally Jordan Bardella was to bring together supporters of the party. From 11 o’clock in the morning, about 300 people presenting themselves as “anti-fascists” tried to approach the farm where the meeting was to be held. Quickly, they faced the gendarmes and CRS mobilized to prevent access to the RN meeting place. Barricades were erected with pallets and barriers. A car was damaged during the clashes which eventually ceased. After the intervention of the security forces, the political rally was held in peace. Several sources from the far-right party assure that the prefecture sought to dissuade them from holding a meeting.
Directed firing of a mortar by a demonstrator
It was in this confrontation that a CRS was seriously injured. “He was targeted by heavy mortar fire. The projectile got stuck between his helmet and his ear and exploded, ”says Commissioner Pierre Labalme, zonal director of the CRS in the West. He was evacuated to the hospital. In response, law enforcement responded with tear gas in an attempt to disperse the protesters. “He was seriously affected. He suffered from dizziness, loss of balance. The first examinations show total deafness in his left ear, ”continues his superior.
A seven-day ITT has been pronounced but will be reassessed after consultation with a specialist. The victim should file a complaint in the coming days. The public prosecutor Philippe Astruc confirms “a hearing trauma” suffered by a CRS. An investigation has been opened to shed light on these clashes denounced by many party executives.