France: Nine People Arrested After Death of Quentin Deranque in Lyon

The investigation into the death of Quentin Deranque, a young right-wing activist, has gained momentum following a wave of arrests carried out on Tuesday in Lyon. The prosecutor's office announced the detention of seven men and two women, all around 20 years old. The most emotional aspect was that among those placed in custody was Jacques-Élie Favrot. He is a close collaborator of Raphaël Arnault, an MP from La France Insoumise (LFI). MP Arnault has already announced the suspension of cooperation with Favrot for the duration of the proceedings, while also stipulating that judgments cannot be passed before the completion of law enforcement work. The situation in the National Assembly has become exceptionally tense. During Tuesday's question session to the government, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the victim, though it proceeded in an atmosphere of mutual accusations. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs sharply criticized the stance of the left, suggesting that the radical rhetoric of LFI contributes to the escalation of violence on the streets. In turn, representatives of Jean-Luc Mélenchon's party refute the allegations, claiming that the tragic death of the young man is shamelessly exploited for political warfare by the ruling camp and the far-right led by Jordan Bardella. The French political scene has been grappling with increasing polarization for years, and Lyon traditionally serves as an arena for violent clashes between far-right identitarian militias and radical anti-fascist groups. These events occur just a few weeks before the local elections, further heating social sentiments. In several cities, including Tours and Belfort, acts of vandalism have already occurred at the offices of left-wing MPs, which police link to retaliation for Deranque's death. Prosecutor Thierry Dran emphasized that the investigation is being conducted as a case of intentional homicide, and collected evidence points to connections between some perpetrators and far-left circles. Quentin's death has become a symbol of the tragic consequences of radicalization that transfers from parliamentary debates directly onto French streets. „In the face of such violence, there is no room for compromise; La France Insoumise must finally put its own house in order.” — Sébastien LecornuNumber of People Arrested in Lyon: Male detainees: 7, Female detainees: 2, Parliamentary assistants: 19 people — were placed in investigative custodyTimeline of Events in Lyon: February 12 — Attack in Lyon; February 14 — Victim's Death; February 17 — Wave of Arrests; February 17 — Minute of Silence