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Nice fire: a conflict against a backdrop of “drug trafficking”, confirms the prosecutor
The Nice public prosecutor held a press conference on the afternoon of Monday, July 22. He announced that five people were involved in the arson attack. Two of them were arrested.
(franceinfo)
The Nice public prosecutor held a press conference on the afternoon of Monday, July 22. He announced that five people were involved in the arson attack. Two of them were arrested.
It took less than a week to identify a suspect after the fire in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) on Thursday, July 18. A 21-year-old man was arrested on Sunday in Noisy-le-Grand (Seine-Saint-Denis). Placed in police custody, investigators suspect him of being one of the arsonists. “The person concerned, known to the police, had a criminal record for minor offences”said Damien Martinelli, the public prosecutor of Nice.
On Friday, a man was arrested, suspected of being the driver of the three arsonists. The theory of a conflict over drug trafficking is confirmed by the prosecutor, who indicates that the fire “is likely to be linked to the control of drug sales outlets located near the scene of the fire”. On the other hand, “the victims of the facts are in no way directly or indirectly concerned” by the territorial conflict.
Five individuals are suspected of having participated in the events. Three of them, aged 23, 18 and 17, are actively being sought. A judicial investigation has been opened by the Nice public prosecutor’s office for wilful destruction by an organised gang resulting in death. The perpetrators face life imprisonment.
