What we know about the attack on government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot during a poster-posting event in Meudon

Four people are in police custody, including three minors. The Nanterre prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into “violence committed in a group with a weapon” and “violence against a public elected official in a group and with a weapon”.

“Violence is never the answer.” This is the message posted on Thursday, July 4, on X by government spokesperson Prisca Thevenot, the day after she was attacked while putting up posters in the town of Meudon (Hauts-de-Seine). The majority candidate in the 8th constituency of the department was not injured, but her substitute and an activist were hospitalized. The Prime Minister and candidate Gabriel Attal is due to go to Meudon on Thursday afternoon to give them his support, franceinfo learned from concordant sources.

Four people were arrested and taken into custody, including three minors, the Nanterre prosecutor’s office told franceinfo, which has opened an investigation into group violence, with a weapon, against a public elected official. Here is what we know about this attack, which occurred four days before the second round of the legislative elections.

Prisca Thevenot and her team attacked by around fifteen people

While she was putting up posters with her substitute, Virginie Lanlo, and an activist in Meudon-la-Forêt, around 8 p.m., Prisca Thevenot claims to have noticed that a young man was tearing down a poster. She then pointed out to him that it was forbidden to damage campaign posters, according to her account to the police.

The minister and her team were then attacked by the latter, then by a group of around fifteen people who had arrived in support, according to a source close to the investigation at franceinfo. People “very aggressive” who were shouting, according to Prisca Thevenot’s campaign team.

A man hit the activist in the face with a scooter, moving his jaw. The substitute Virginie Lanlo received punches and kicks on the body, particularly on the left arm, she explained to the police. Prisca Thevenot was not injured. The firefighters were then called and intervened to provide care. The substitute and the activist were finally transported to the hospital.

One adult and three minors arrested and taken into custody

City Councilor Avedik Batikian filmed the scene from his balcony, which “allowed the police” to identify suspects, he explained to France Télévisions. Prisca Thévenot also filmed part of the attack. Four people – one adult and three minors – were arrested and taken into custody, franceinfo learned from the Nanterre prosecutor’s office. Two of them were born in 2007 and 2009, according to a source close to the case. Only one of those arrested, who all live in Meudon, is known to have a criminal record, according to a police source at France Télévisions.

Prisca Thévenot filed a complaint and an investigation “in flagrante delicto (…) for acts described as violence committed in a meeting with a weapon, and violence against an elected official in a meeting and with a weapon (by destination)” was opened on Thursday by the public prosecutor’s office. The investigations were entrusted to the territorial directorate of local security in Hauts-de-Seine. “They started during the night and will take time, in particular to recover videos of the events and testimonies”a source close to the case explained to franceinfo.

Prisca Thevenot, supported by the political class, continues her campaign

According to the entourage of the government spokesperson, contacted by franceinfo, Prisca Thevenot “will continue its campaign on the ground as planned until Friday evening”The government spokesperson received the support of the political class, starting with her competitor in these legislative elections, the candidate of the New Popular Front, Salomé Nicolas-Chavance, who said “deeply shocked” on the social network X.

I learned of the assault that I was the victim of @priscathevenot and his teams and I give them my full support.
I am deeply shocked by these unacceptable acts and condemn them in the strongest possible terms. Violence has no place in our democracy.

— Salome Nicolas-Chavance (@Salome_NC) July 3, 2024

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stéphane Séjourné, was also moved by this attack. “Violence has no place in our democracy. My full support to them and to the activists present.”he wrote on X. On the same social network, the president of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, considered that “Everyone must be able to campaign calmly and freely. Democracy demands it.”

While several candidates have been attacked in recent days, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, candidate in the North, judged that“he is pass[ait] something that borders on liberation from violence” And announced that “30,000 police officers and gendarmes, including 5,000 in Paris and its suburbs”, would be mobilized on Sunday evening.