Eleven people, including an aide to a hard-left lawmaker, have been arrested over the killing of a far-right activist in Lyon, exposing France’s deep political rifts.
PARIS: French police have arrested 11 people on suspicion of involvement in the killing of a far-right activist. The incident has exposed deep political tensions ahead of upcoming elections.
Among those detained is an aide to hard-left lawmaker Raphael Arnault. Arnault confirmed his parliamentary assistant was among those arrested and had “stopped all parliamentary work”.
The victim, 23-year-old Quentin Deranque, died on Saturday after being beaten by hard-left activists. The attack occurred outside a conference in Lyon given by far-left European Parliament member Rima Hassan.
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Videos of the deadly confrontation were widely shared on social media. Hassan and other members of her France Unbowed (LFI) party have condemned the killing.
Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran said a murder probe has been opened into Deranque’s death. The investigation has led to widespread condemnation of the LFI party.
LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for calm on social media. “Let’s not fuel the incitement to take the law into one’s own hands,” he said.
Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally, accused Mélenchon of having “opened the doors of the National Assembly to presumed murderers”.
French President Emmanuel Macron also appealed for calm following the killing. The incident reflects increasing polarisation in the country.
Both the hard left and hard right have capitalised on frustration with the minority centrist government. This comes ahead of local elections next month and a presidential vote next year.
