A brutal attack in Lyon ended tragically: 23-year-old Quentin D., linked to nationalist circles, died in hospital from his injuries. The assault occurred on Thursday evening near a conference by MEP Rima Hassan. The prosecution has upgraded the charges to fatal assault. President Emmanuel Macron has appealed to citizens for calm and restraint, while the right accuses far-left militias of perpetrating the act.

Death of a 23-year-old student

Quentin D. died on 14 February in a hospital in Lyon following a brutal beating that occurred two days earlier near the university.

Investigation into homicide

The prosecution has changed the charges to fatal assault; the perpetrators are alleged to have acted in an organized manner and used dangerous tools.

President Macron's appeal

Emmanuel Macron called for calm and condemned the violence, stating that no ideology gives permission to take another person's life.

Retaliatory acts of vandalism

Headquarters of the La France Insoumise party in Metz and Lille were vandalized in response to the young nationalist's death in Lyon.

Tragic reports from Lyon have shaken French public opinion after 23-year-old mathematics student Quentin D. died on Saturday, 14 February 2026. The man had been brain-dead since a brutal attack two days earlier. The incident took place near the prestigious Sciences Po Lyon university, where a meeting with La France Insoumise MEP Rima Hassan was being held at the same time. According to witness accounts and the victim's family, Quentin was attacked by a large, organized group of assailants, whose ideological identity has become the subject of intense political dispute. The deceased's family and right-wing organizations, such as the Némésis collective, claim it was a planned guet-apens (ambush) carried out by members of the far-left organization Jeune Garde. The family's lawyer emphasizes that the attackers were masked, armed, and acted with a significant numerical advantage. Meanwhile, left-wing representatives reject the accusations, pointing to the threat from identitarian circles. The Lyon prosecutor's office has officially expanded the investigation, which now concerns intentional homicide under aggravating circumstances, including acting as a group and using weapons. Lyon has long been considered a bastion of strong tensions between radical left-wing and right-wing groups. The city regularly sees clashes between anti-fascist militias and representatives of identitarian and monarchist movements. The reaction from the highest state authorities was immediate. President Emmanuel Macron issued an appeal for "calming of moods, restraint, and respect," emphasizing that no ideology can justify murder. Meanwhile, on Friday night into Saturday, acts of vandalism occurred at LFI party headquarters in Metz and Lille, interpreted as retaliation for the 23-year-old's death. Graffiti reading "Justice for Quentin" in red paint appeared on the buildings. The situation remains tense, and authorities fear further clashes during upcoming demonstrations. „In Lyon, Quentin fell victim to an unprecedented wave of violence. He lost his life at just 23 years old. No cause, no ideology will ever justify killing.” — Emmanuel Macron

Mentioned People

  • Quentin D. — 23-year-old mathematics student and nationalist activist, victim of a fatal beating in Lyon.
  • Rima Hassan — La France Insoumise MEP, whose conference was taking place at the time of the attack.
  • Aurore Bergé — French Minister for the Fight against Discrimination, who condemned the attack.