Firefighters gather in solidarity

Professional firefighters across France gathered at midday on Monday in front of fire stations to show solidarity with a colleague seriously injured by gunfire during an intervention near Marseille the previous day.

Injured firefighter's condition

The injured firefighter, a 53-year-old professional sergeant, was shot "point-blank in the chest" with birdshot and is described as having "initially caused great concern," though his condition is "rather improving," according to Julien Marion, general director of Civil Security. The firefighter, hospitalized in Marseille, will remain under observation for several days "due to the severity of his injuries."

Firefighters show support nationwide

In Lille, a dozen firefighters deployed all their vehicles at 12:00 and stood at attention for one minute while the siren sounded in tribute. In Bordeaux, vehicles were also deployed in front of the fire station, with a banner reading "On Strike" displayed on the façade.

Unions call for solidarity

Nine representative unions had called for all fire stations in France to deploy their vehicles with flashing lights and two-tone sirens to express "anger and solidarity." A flyer stated, "You do not shoot at those who save lives," and called for "strong actions and a response from the State that matches the gravity of the situation."

Attack details revealed

The attack occurred on Sunday in the late afternoon during an intervention in the commercial area of Plan de Campagne in Pennes-Mirabeau, where emergency services were called to extinguish a fire involving a heavy goods vehicle and light vehicles. According to Jacques Witkowski, prefect of the Bouches-du-Rhône, the firefighters were "attacked with a firearm," and the suspect was placed in custody for "attempted homicide of a person carrying out a public service mission, destruction and damage using dangerous means, and possession of category B weapons."

Suspect's background

The suspect, identified as Nasser B., born in 1975, presents a "psychiatric profile" with an "alteration of judgment," according to a source close to the case. He was already known for violent acts involving weapons and was scheduled to be tried on Tuesday before the correctional court in Aix-en-Provence for threats and violence, including with weapons.

Suspect's possible involvement

According to the prefect, Nasser B. had "probably set fire" to the vehicles himself, necessitating the arrival of the firefighters. The suspect was evicted and arrested by the Raid after taking refuge in a caravan. The health of the injured firefighter is "stable," according to the prosecutor's office, though Julien Marion emphasized the need to remain "naturally very cautious" regarding the evolution of his health.

Firefighters' reaction

The attack caused "stunnedness" and "anger" among firefighters, with Julien Marion expressing hope for a "penal response that matches the gravity" of the situation. Civil Security reported a "continuous" increase in attacks, with 1,525 reported in 2025, a 4.3% increase compared to 2024. However, the number of firefighters injured as a result of an attack decreased by 7% in 2025.

Nature of attacks

The majority (87%) of attacks occurred during emergency rescue missions for people and were committed by those being rescued. No attacks involving firearms were recorded, with most aggressions being verbal, and for more than a third, physical.