Four far-right activists were released on Thursday by the Angers criminal court. They were tried for “participation in a group formed to prepare violence”, facts that date back to the riots that took place at the end of June after the death of Nahel in Nanterre. Two of the four identitarians, members of the RED (Right-wing student rally) or former Alvarium, a far-right group dissolved in 2021, were also prosecuted for “carrying a weapon”. One of them, however, was given a three-month suspended prison sentence for “violence”.
On the evening of June 30, participants in a prohibited demonstration against police violence were dispersed by the police. About sixty of them then went to rue du Cornet, in the city center of Angers, where the local identity is located. Throws of projectiles and blows had followed, on both sides.
Act in a state of necessity
In this context, far-right activists were seen every evening, in and around their premises, armed with bats and pieces of wood, some masked. Videos posted on social media showed them advancing towards the attackers and, in one case, committing violence.
While considering that the offense of participation in a group formed with a view to preparing violence was indeed characterized, the judges considered that the four men, aged between 20 and 28 and also prosecuted for “participation in a group armed”, had acted in a state of necessity, in proportion to the threat to which they were subject, noted an AFP correspondent.