Far-right violence reported in Montpellier

Following demonstrations on October 24 in Montpellier, Hérault, the socialist mayor Michaël Delafosse reported that a far-right militia used violence against demonstrators. This claim was based on videos shared on social media showing masked men attacking a person on the ground in the presence of CRS (Républicaine de Sécurité) officers.

Criticism of security forces

The videos have sparked criticism of the security forces for their perceived inaction. The presence of far-right activists was confirmed by the Ministry of the Interior, though Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez denied any proximity between the far right and the police.

Legal actions initiated

The mayor of Montpellier reported the incident to the public prosecutor, condemning the actions and demanding justice. The prefecture of Hérault also announced it would report the case to the public prosecutor to investigate the actions of the far-right activists. An investigation has been opened to identify those responsible for the violence.

Video evidence under review

Videos of the incident, including one filmed near the Montpellier tourism office, have been submitted to judicial authorities for authentication. The authenticity of the videos remains under review. A lawyer, Me Philippe-Henry Honegger, discussed possible scenarios, including self-defense by the attackers or a misjudgment by the security forces. He noted that the police are not expected to prevent all offenses but should act if violence is disproportionate.

Demonstration scale and impact

According to the prefecture of Hérault, up to 6,300 people participated in the demonstrations, with 30 individuals arrested, 13 of whom have been referred to the prosecutor. The demonstrations caused damage estimated at nearly 4 million euros, but businesses in Montpellier suffered no damage as they were protected by internal security forces.