The Marseille prosecutor’s office opens a new investigation for suspicions of police violence

The Marseille prosecutor’s office has opened a new investigation into suspicions of police violence during the nights of clashes which followed the death of Nahel, a 17-year-old teenager, during a traffic check in Nanterre. This investigation was opened by heads of “voluntary violence in a meeting having resulted in mutilation or permanent infirmity by a person holding public authority and with a weapon”, following the complaint of a young man, said the prosecution, Monday, July 24, confirming information from the regional daily Provence.

The prosecution did not detail the number of police officers concerned, just stating that the facts of which they are accused took place on the night of June 30 to July 1, in the Marseille city.

Four Marseille police officers already indicted

The announcement of this new investigation by the Marseille prosecutor’s office comes as four police officers from the Marseille BAC were indicted last week and one of them placed in pre-trial detention. They are suspected of having beaten a young man on the sidelines of the violence that occurred in early July.

This placement in pre-trial detention aroused the anger of the police, supported by the director general of the national police, Frédéric Veaux. The magistrates’ unions, for their part, have judged “very serious” the declarations of the high official, who had wished the release of this policeman from the BAC of Marseille.

From New Caledonia, Emmanuel Macron said he understood “emotion” police officers, while specifying that “No one in the Republic is above the law”.