Cars Set on Fire at French Prison in Latest Attack Wave

Photo : AFP

French prisons were attacked again, in what seems like a second wave of violence. This happened overnight, and in one of the attacks, three cars were set on fire at Tarascon prison, which is in the south of France. The Justice Minister, Gerald Darmanin, confirmed the news on TV and radio, saying that the cars were burned early in the morning.

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The attacks didn’t stop there. A building in Meaux, to the east of Paris, was also set on fire. This building is where a prison guard works. In Aix-Luynes, which is also in the south of France, a prison guard’s car was burned. The union for prison workers, FO Justice, said that in Tarascon, three cars were destroyed in the prison’s parking lot.

Earlier in the week, at least six other prisons, which hold some of the most dangerous criminals in the country, were attacked with guns and fires. Darmanin called these attacks “terrorism,” but he also said it was too early to rule out other reasons. He believes the attacks are meant to shake the country and intimidate the government.

He also said that the government won’t back down. “If we back down, then there is nothing left, and the French people would not be safe anymore,” Darmanin said. His words show how serious the situation is and how determined the government is to protect the country.

The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) is now in charge of looking into the attacks. They are also investigating the National School of Prison Administration, which was another target. The domestic intelligence agency (DGSI) is also helping with the investigation.

At this time, there’s no proof that these attacks are connected to any foreign groups. A lot of the violence is happening because of the big drug trade in France, especially cocaine, coming from South America. Even though French police have seized a lot of cocaine, drug gangs are still making a lot of money. These gangs are spreading their power from big cities, like Marseille, to smaller towns that didn’t use to have this kind of crime.

Some graffiti was found at the sites of the attacks. The letters “DDPF” were sprayed on walls, which stand for “French prisoners’ rights.” Some police think that this might be the work of groups with left-wing ideas. But Darmanin believes that the attacks, which included shooting at prison doors with AK-47 rifles, were more likely planned by criminal gangs.

These attacks on prisons in France show how serious the issue has become. The government is trying its best to keep control and protect people from the violence that is spreading. The investigations will continue to find out who is behind the attacks and why they are happening.