After the fatal attack on a young man in Grande-Synthe (North), Tuesday April 16, 2024, a second minor aged 15 was taken into police custody, announced this Wednesday evening April 17, 2024 BFMTV then theAFP, citing the Dunkirk public prosecutor’s office. Earlier in the day, another minor, this time aged 14, was taken into police custody. The latter was extended.
A savage attack
Philippe, a young social worker aged 22, was violently attacked by several individuals during the night from Monday to Tuesday, a stone’s throw from the town hall of Grande-Synthe. “Literally disfigured”according to The voice of the North he was taken to hospital in a coma, after receiving multiple blows to the face, causing several fractures and head trauma.
Hospitalized in intensive care, “he died (Tuesday) evening as a result of his injuries”Dunkirk prosecutor Charlotte Huet announced this Wednesday noon in a press release. “Investigations are continuing actively in order to identify all those involved and to clarify the circumstances”further indicated the floor at midday.
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The hypothesis of an ambush
The investigation, initially opened for “attempted homicide by an organized gang”, was reclassified as “murder by an organized gang”, and entrusted to the Lille judicial police, indicates The voice of the North. According to information collected by this media, the victim could have fallen into an ambush set by his attackers, arranging to meet him in the evening in the center of the town.
According to our colleagues, a similar attack was reported Saturday evening, in the same neighborhood. A 39-year-old man, who had made an appointment on a dating site, was ambushed. He would have found himself facing a gang of men armed with baseball bats. However, he managed to escape safely and alert the police.
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The community in shock
A jackpotlaunched on the leetchi platform to organize the young man’s funeral and shared by the city’s mayor, has already collected nearly €17,500 this Wednesday evening. “Philippe was a young man of 23 years old. He worked in a socio-educational center. He was honest, generous, full of life, always smiling and ready to help others”writes his family.
On social networks, the mayor of Grande-Synthe, Martial Beyaert, called on the population to calm down on Monday. “Let us not give in to fear or the spirit of vengeance”, insisted the councilor, probably worried about the threats of reprisals. According to our colleagues at Dunkirk lighthouse a white march will be organized in Grande-Synthe on Friday April 19.