Seven men aged 20 to 26 have been charged in connection with the death of 23-year-old nationalist activist Quentin Deranque. The victim died from severe head injuries after a brutal beating that occurred on February 12 during clashes between far-left and far-right groups. Among the accused is a parliamentary assistant to a member of the far-left party La France Insoumise, which has triggered a major political scandal in France.

Seven Individuals Charged

The public prosecutor's office in Lyon has pressed charges against six men for intentional homicide and one person for incitement to the crime.

MP's Assistant Involved

Among the accused is Jacques-Elie Favrot, a collaborator of Raphaël Arnault from LFI, which has triggered political criticism from both the government and the opposition.

Criminal History of Perpetrators

One of the suspects involved in the lynching was previously accused of antisemitic attacks and was under judicial supervision.

International Tensions

The death of Quentin Deranque led to a sharp exchange of words between Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The public prosecutor's office in Lyon has pressed charges against seven suspects in the tragic death of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old activist associated with nationalist circles. The fatal incident occurred on February 12, 2026, when Deranque was brutally beaten by a group of masked perpetrators near the premises of Sciences Po Lyon. The victim, who served as a security steward for the right-wing collective Némésis, suffered extensive brain injuries and died in hospital two days later. Investigators have classified the act as intentional homicide and complicity. The most contentious aspect is that one of the main suspects accused of inciting the attack is Jacques-Elie Favrot, the parliamentary assistant of Raphaël Arnault, a member of parliament for the La France Insoumise (LFI) party. Favrot has been charged with incitement to murder. Another accused, 24-year-old Alexis C., was under police supervision at the time of the incident due to a previous antisemitic attack in the Paris metro. Prosecutor Thierry Dran has requested the application of pre-trial detention for all seven suspects, citing the risk of disturbing public order. This event has become the source of an international diplomatic dispute. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized French authorities for leniency towards far-left militias, which was met with a sharp retort from President Emmanuel Macron, who called on the Italian politician not to interfere in France's internal affairs. The family of the deceased, represented by lawyer Fabien Rajon, is demanding that the act be reclassified as murder committed by a organized criminal group. Many of the suspects admit to delivering blows but consistently deny that their goal was to take the young man's life. For years, Lyon has been an arena of violent conflicts between radical left-wing groups and identitarian circles. The city, which was the cradle of the French Resistance during World War II, has in recent decades become a center of activity for groups such as the now-dissolved Jeune Garde or the far-right Les Remparts. 7 — suspects have been charged with murder or complicity Police are still searching for the remaining perpetrators who participated in the lynching. „Identifying the individuals present at the scene was difficult; several people involved in this incident remain to be identified.” — Thierry Dran Status of Suspects in the Deranque Case: Murder charges: 6, Incitement charge: 1, Released from custody: 4

Mentioned People

  • Quentin Deranque — 23-year-old victim of a lynching, activist associated with nationalist and monarchist circles.
  • Raphaël Arnault — Member of Parliament for the far-left party La France Insoumise, whose assistant has been charged.
  • Thierry Dran — Prosecutor in Lyon leading the investigation into Deranque's death.
  • Jacques-Elie Favrot — Parliamentary assistant charged with incitement to murder.
  • Rima Hassan — Member of the European Parliament for La France Insoumise, during whose lecture the riots occurred.