Vehicles were set on fire outside several prisons in France, and gunfire was reported at one of the prisons using automatic weapons. The French government believes these targeted attacks, occurring at night, are in retaliation for its anti-drug trafficking operations, according to BBC.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin described the attacks as an “attempt to intimidate.” According to information from Le Parisien, seven prisons were targeted, including in southern France—Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Vallens, Nîmes—and near Paris in Villepinte and Nantes.
France’s National Anti-Terrorist Prosecutor’s Office is investigating these incidents. Darmanin mentioned on X (formerly Twitter) that he was heading to Toulon prison to assist affected officials, where gunfire had occurred.
While Darmanin did not directly blame anyone, he stated that the government is facing the problem of drug trafficking and is taking measures that will severely disrupt the operations of criminal networks.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wrote on X that the government’s response must be ruthless. He demanded that the attackers be held in the same prisons, under the supervision of the prison staff they targeted.
The prison workers’ union FO Justice expressed deep concern and anger after the severe attacks at night. Photos posted by the union on X showed burned vehicles in the prison parking lot and bullet marks on the main gate of Toulon prison.
The union called for urgent measures to ensure the safety of prison staff. This attack followed a similar incident on Sunday, where seven vehicles were set on fire at France’s National Prison Administration School.
The union issued a statement expressing concern that some people are now unhesitant to directly attack the state authority symbolized by prison property.
No group has claimed responsibility yet, but Le Parisien reported that the letters “DDPF” were found on the damaged vehicles. AFP also reported that anarchist slogans were seen in some areas.
An AFP source said the attacks were coordinated and clearly linked to the government’s anti-drug trafficking strategy.
A law is about to be passed in the French Parliament that proposes the creation of a special prosecutor’s office to combat drug crimes and will grant investigators new powers.