Writer attacked near home

The writer and academician Jean-Christophe Rufin was attacked near his home in Bourges during the night of October 15. The incident occurred in the center of the city, where Rufin, a 74-year-old Goncourt Prize winner, described being assaulted by three men.

Noise complaints led to confrontation

Rufin said that for about three weeks, people had been renting a nearby property through the platform Airbnb. During the night of October 15 to 16, a car arrived to join the group, which often held loud parties until early morning. The writer went out to ask them to quiet down, but the situation escalated.

Violent assault described

According to Rufin, the men came out of the car and struck him, knocking him to the ground. They kicked him in the head several times and broke a bottle over his head. He described the attack as severe, saying it felt like "a massacre."

Injuries and hospital treatment

Rufin was taken to the Jacques-Coeur hospital in Bourges, where he received stitches for a head wound, a broken nose, and several bruises. He described his appearance as resembling "a boxer at the end of the last round" in an interview with Le Berry Républicain.

Suspect identified and investigation opened

A person was identified through surveillance footage and placed in custody on Friday evening. The public prosecutor in Bourges confirmed that a complaint had been filed and an investigation opened for "deliberate violence in a group with weapon."