English
Paris — French authorities are grappling with a new surge of violent attacks on prison facilities, with the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office confirming that several incidents occurred overnight, including arson attacks and gunfire.
At the Tarascon prison in southern France, multiple cars were set ablaze, while another vehicle was torched outside the home of a prison guard in nearby Aix-Luynes. In the Seine-et-Marne region near Paris, the door of a building was damaged in a separate attack, officials reported.
These latest acts of aggression follow a string of assaults on at least nine prison-related facilities over the past two nights, including attacks on a school for corrections staff.
“There are clearly individuals trying to destabilize the state through intimidation,” said Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin in a joint interview with CNews TV and Europe 1 radio. “We will not back down. If the state retreats, then nothing remains to protect the French people.”
Graffiti marked with the initials “DDPF” — believed to stand for “Droits des Détenus en Prison Française” (French Prisoners’ Rights) — was found at multiple attack sites. Some police sources suggest the vandalism could be linked to far-left militant groups, though no group has claimed responsibility.
However, Darmanin warned that the nature of the attacks — which reportedly include the use of AK-47 automatic weapons fired at prison doors — appears more consistent with the tactics of organized crime.
“We are taking decisive action, especially against drug trafficking, and these reactions are likely a direct response to our efforts,” the minister said. “Some countries have caved to narco-banditry. We’re not at that point — but we are not far off.”
French security forces have so far found no evidence of foreign interference in the attacks. However, the recent violence comes amid growing concern over the impact of booming South American cocaine imports into Europe.
Despite record drug seizures in France, the illicit trade continues to generate massive profits for criminal networks. These gangs, once concentrated in cities like Marseille, are now spreading into smaller towns with little history of drug-related violence, dramatically shifting the security landscape.
The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office has launched a formal investigation into the recent wave of attacks, while additional security measures are being deployed to protect vulnerable prison staff and facilities across the country.
