A foreign suspect briefly arrested, then put ” harmless “after the attack on three police officers on Wednesday evening in Lyonshould be expelled, learned theAFP this Sunday, July 24 in the entourage of the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin.
In a tweet published in the middle of the afternoon, the minister estimated that “This individual has nothing to do in our country which is generous if we respect it”. “In connection with the events or not, (he is) known for numerous accusations: theft, violence, death threat against a person holding public authority, possession of drugs, violence in meetings…”said Gérald Darmanin.
Earlier Sunday, the Minister had announced on Twitter that “Following the unacceptable attack on the police officers of Lyon, police operations (were) taking place. One of the offenders is a foreigner, he was arrested. On my instruction, he was placed in detention and will be deported”he added.
Asked by AFP, the Lyon prosecutor’s office however indicated that “the person placed in police custody yesterday (Saturday) as part of the investigation opened in Lyon into the chief of violence against police officers in Place Gabriel-Peri on the evening of July 20, was released today”.
“It turns out that she was completely exonerated in the context of the investigations carried out. The investigation is actively continuing to identify, locate and arrest the perpetrators.says the prosecution.
According to Gérald Darmanin’s entourage on Sunday afternoon, the suspect is in “administrative detention center since this Sunday morning” and should be expelled.
The mayor of Grenoble steps up to the plate
According to the newspaper Progress the suspect is 26 years old and is in an irregular situation.
The environmentalist mayor of Grenoble Eric Piolle reacted on Twitter by accusing Gérald Darmanin of “openly flirt with the far right by using its words and ideas” and of “overrides the rule of law by providing for the deportation of a foreign offender without waiting for the results of the investigations”. “Another symbol of a dismaying and worrying drift”he estimated.
“There will be additional means”
Two of the three police officers attacked were injured Wednesday evening in Lyon while trying to arrest a person suspected of theft, in the middle of a crowd which violently attacked them.
On a video of the scene broadcast on social networks, relayed by the Alliance union and the news site LyonMagwe 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 Élisabeth Borne, traveling to Vaulx-en-Velin (Rhône) on Friday, felt that it was necessary “absolutely 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 neighborhoods, we will do it”she said.