The mayor of Fameck, Michel Liebgott, has long been a target of anonymous letters, but a recent incident has raised serious concerns. On Thursday, a new threatening letter addressed to the mayor contained a powder that caused an explosion when handled by two bomb disposal experts from Nancy. The incident left both technicians injured—one with a hand injury and the other with a cheek wound. This marks at least the fifteenth threatening letter the mayor has received in eight years, but the inclusion of a potentially dangerous substance represents a new and alarming escalation. According to the gendarmerie, the powder in the letter was not designed to explode on contact, meaning that municipal staff could have handled it safely without risk. However, the explosion occurred as a result of the bomb disposal team's intervention. Michel Liebgott described the event as a "worrying turning point" in the harassment he has faced. Previously, he had received threatening and vulgar letters, but the addition of a substance capable of causing physical harm has raised the stakes. "Now, indeed, powder that can be manipulated and cause physical damage is added," he said on ICI Lorraine TV on Friday, September 4, 2026. "That's unacceptable... We are dealing with threats aimed at pushing me to stop doing politics." The latest letter reportedly accused the socialist mayor of "complicity with Islamists," an accusation that Liebgott firmly denies. He emphasized that Fameck is a diverse community with multiple nationalities and religions, and that he has always maintained a moderate stance as a social democrat. While he acknowledges the possibility that the letter could come from someone on the far right, he also considers the alternative that it might be an individual seeking to create internal conflict within the town hall or his personal life. "I have no intention of yielding to threats," he said. Authorities have launched an investigation into the author of the letter, and a formal complaint has been filed with the gendarmerie in Fameck. As the mayor continues to face pressure, the situation underscores the growing tension surrounding his leadership and the need for a resolution to the ongoing harassment.