Several French prisons were attacked on April 13, according to French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin. The assailants burned vehicles and in one case fired automatic weapons towards a prison. Three vehicles, including two belonging to prison staff, were set on fire in the parking lot of the Villepinte prison north of Paris, according to police. A fuel canister was found at that location, and CCTV footage showed two individuals setting the cars aflame.
Cars parked outside three other prisons around France, were also set on fire, the police said. In a prison on France’s southern coast in Toulon, 15 bullet holes were found on the front gate following an attack with a “Kalashnikov-type” assault weapon local authorities said. In a prison in Aix, two vehicles were set on fire and the gate of the local ERIS prison surveillance unit was vandalized.
Fires had already been set overnight (Sunday to Monday) in the parking lots of a prison staff training center and a prison near Paris, several sources said. France’s national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday it had taken charge of the investigation into attacks. The DGSI national security agency will also be involved, the prosecutor said.