Raphaël Arnault not under investigation

Raphaël Arnault, a member of the LFI parliamentary group, is not under investigation in the case of the death of Quentin Deranque, according to judicial sources cited by BFMTV on Tuesday, November 3.

Arnault was questioned as a witness

According to information confirming those of Le Parisien, Arnault was heard by the anti-terrorism sub-directorate (SDAT) in Levallois-Perret (Hauts-de-Seine) on October 27, not as a suspect but as a witness in the judicial procedure.

Legal clarification from Arnault's lawyer

"Neither placed under investigation nor under the status of assisted witness," said the deputy's lawyer, Me Chirinne Ardakani, during a press conference on Tuesday morning in Paris. "There is currently no judicial act that makes Mr. Raphaël Arnault a party to this judicial inquiry, contrary to what may be suggested. My client is neither under investigation nor under the status of assisted witness," she stated.

Nature of the facts questioned

The lawyer added that the facts for which Arnault was heard did not concern the acts of violence committed on February 12, 2026 (the murder of Quentin Deranque), nor the preparatory acts aimed at committing violence. He was heard about relatively minor facts, she said, indicating that her client "could leave the police premises freely at any time."

La Jeune Garde in legal turmoil

The founder of La Jeune Garde is in turmoil since several former members of the anti-fascist group and two former parliamentary collaborators have been placed under investigation for the murder of Quentin Deranque in Lyon.

Family lawyer seeks action against Arnault

On October 21, the lawyer for Quentin Deranque's family had requested the Lyon investigating judges that Raphaël Arnault be heard for "association of wrongdoers" due to his proximity to several of those placed under investigation in this case.

Legal arguments for broader inquiry

"We submitted a request for an act aiming for Mr. Raphaël Arnault to be heard by the judges, with particular attention to the offense of association of wrongdoers, which punishes the grouping or agreement established to prepare crimes or offenses," had indicated last week Me Fabien Rajon to our colleagues from Le Figaro. "The scope of the association of wrongdoers retained to date by the judges seems too limited because it is mainly retained against the only people present at the scene of the incident," he added.

Details of Quentin Deranque's death

Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old nationalist activist and close to Action française, a royalist far-right group founded in 1898, was beaten during clashes between far-left and far-right activists on February 12 in Lyon. He was taken to hospital with a significant hematoma on his head. Two days later, he succumbed to his injuries.