Wave of Coordinated Attacks Target French Prisons - Anti-Narcotics Crackdown

PARIS, April 15, 2025 — A series of brazen, coordinated attacks struck multiple French prisons overnight, with facilities in Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Valence, Nîmes, Luynes, Villepinte, and Nanterre targeted by arson and automatic gunfire. The incidents, which authorities suspect may be linked to the government’s aggressive anti-narcotics measures, have prompted a swift response from France’s Justice Ministry and anti-terrorism prosecutors.

In Toulon, the most severe incident unfolded around 1 a.m., when gunmen in a car unleashed a volley of automatic weapon fire at the prison’s entrance, leaving seven bullet holes in the gate and several shell casings scattered on the ground, according to Le Parisien. No injuries were reported, but the attack sent shockwaves through the facility. Meanwhile, across other targeted prisons, assailants set vehicles ablaze in parking lots, with charred cars reported in Aix-en-Provence, Valence, Villepinte, and Nanterre, among others, per BFMTV and FO Justice union statements.

In Aix-en-Provence, two vehicles were torched, and the gate of a prison surveillance unit was damaged, FO Justice reported. Similar acts of arson occurred in Marseille, where one vehicle was burned and others vandalized, and in Villepinte, where closed-circuit footage captured two individuals setting fire to cars, including those belonging to prison staff. The attacks extended to Valence, where a scooter-riding assailant ignited vehicles, and Nîmes, where cars were also damaged.

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin condemned the attacks, describing them as “intimidation attempts” ranging from vehicle fires to heavy weapons fire. In a post on X, he linked the incidents to the government’s efforts to combat drug trafficking, stating, “The Republic is facing drug trafficking and is taking measures that will profoundly disrupt criminal networks”. Darmanin traveled to Toulon on Tuesday to meet with prison officials and offer support, while a videoconference with prison directors was scheduled for the evening.

The French anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation, with authorities noting the coordinated nature of the attacks. A source close to the matter told AFP that the incidents “appeared to have been coordinated and are clearly linked to the anti-drug gang strategy” led by Darmanin and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Retailleau, in response, ordered enhanced security measures for prisons nationwide.

No group has claimed responsibility, but some vehicles bore inscriptions reading “DDPF” (French prisoners’ rights), and anarchist slogans were found at certain sites, according to Le Parisien and AFP. Speculation about the perpetrators ranges from drug trafficking networks retaliating against tightened prison security to far-left groups, though no definitive motive has been confirmed.

The attacks follow a broader government push to curb narcotics-related crime, with record cocaine seizures in 2024 underscoring the escalating drug trade. Retailleau previously described France as facing a “white tsunami” of cocaine, with 47 tonnes seized in the first 11 months of last year. The violence has fueled concerns about the safety of prison staff, with unions like FO Justice demanding urgent government action. “These criminal acts are a full-on attack on our institution,” the union stated, calling for a robust response.

As investigations continue, Darmanin is expected to deliver a formal statement later today, addressing the attacks and outlining further measures to secure France’s prison system. For now, the nation remains on edge, grappling with the implications of this unprecedented assault on its penal institutions.

This article is based on reports from The Independent, Le Parisien, BFMTV, AFP, BBC News, and CNN, among others, with additional details from posts on X reflecting public sentiment.

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