Edouard Babel, the mayor of a village in Meurthe-et-Moselle, was molested by several people after intervening to put an end to the nocturnal noise, an attack that moved him and earned him marks of support. This mayor of Magnières, a small town of around 300 inhabitants near Lunéville, was violently attacked on the night of Saturday to Sunday when he went to the village hall to ask people gathered for calm. to celebrate a birthday. He explained that he first received a slap.
“When I came out, a dozen guests followed me. They put me on the ground and beat me. Fortunately, residents and friends intervened. I had the fear of my life,” confided Edouard Babel, the newspaper Republican East. “It’s very hard, it’s gratuitous violence,” added the mayor who filed a complaint but does not intend to resign.
“This violence requires a criminal response”
An 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old minor were arrested and placed in police custody, “the first on the count of violence in a meeting, contempt and threats against a person holding public authority. The second for death threats and insults to the police made during his arrest, ”said the public prosecutor of Nancy, François Capin-Dulhoste, to the newspaper.
The elected official received marks of support following this attack which comes a few weeks after the resignation of the mayor of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins (Loire-Atlantique), who had decided to leave office after suffering threats and violence. “To attack a mayor is to attack the foundations of what unites us, the Republic. This is unfortunately what took place last night in Magnières, ”said the prefect of Meurthe-et-Moselle Arnaud Cochet in a press release.
“This violence demands a criminal response (…) This violence also calls for a strong reaction,” he wrote. “Faced with this aggression, the State and the prefectural body reaffirmed their unfailing support for Edouard Babel. We are at his side and in connection with the Gendarmerie to ensure the safety of his commune. »