Several prisons in France have been struck by a wave of attacks overnight, said the Minister of Justice.
Gérald Darmanin said the prisons had faced “intimidation attempts” ranging from the combustion of the vehicle to automatic arms fire.
The Parisian reports that vehicles were burnt down in several prison car parks, while a prison in Toulon was targeted by gunshots of an automatic weapon.
The newspaper lists six targeted establishments: in Toulon, Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, Valence and Nîmes, Luynes, Villepinte and Nanterre.
In an article on X, Darmanin said he was going to Toulon to provide support to the affected officers.
Without directly attributing the blame for attacks, he said that the French government “faced the problem of drug trafficking” and took measures that “deeply disturb” criminal networks.
The prison prison union, Fo Justice, expressed its “deeper concern and anger” following “extremely serious” attacks overnight.
The union has published updates from several attacks against X, including images of ball holes in the windows of Toulon prison and burned vehicles in other prison car parks.
He called for an urgent government action to protect prison personnel.
