Multiple prisons in France have been attacked, the country’s justice minister has said – with reports of gunfire and arson.
France’s anti-terrorism prosecutor’s department is investigating the attacks alongside the national security agency, while local media reports claim the attacks were co-ordinated.
Vehicles were set alight in prison car parks, according to Le Parisien, while a prison in the southern city of Toulon was fired at with an automatic weapon.
“Attempts have been made to intimidate staff in several prisons, ranging from burning vehicles to firing automatic weapons,” Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed on social media platform X.
The wave of attacks comes as lawmakers are poised to approve a sweeping new anti-drug trafficking law that would increase the powers of police investigating narcos and create a new prosecutors’ office for organised crime.
Record cocaine imports from South America to Europe have increased drug violence in France, where cocaine seizures are at an all-time high.
Drug groups have expanded from traditional power bases like Marseille into smaller regional towns.
“These targeted, cowardly, and heinous attacks aim to terrorise those who embody the authority of the State and ensure the safety of all on a daily basis, even at the cost of their own peace of mind,” prison staff union UFAP said.
Prisons were also hit in Aix-en-Provence and Marseille, Valence and Nîmes, Luynes, Villepinte, and Nanterre, according to local reports.
Prison unions have said burnt vehicles have been found outside prisons for several days, BFMTV reported.
Student cars were also set alight outside the National School of Prison Administration on Sunday evening, FO Justice union said.
Mr Darmanin said that he would travel to the southern city of Toulon to support officers impacted by the attacks.
He has been leading efforts to crackdown on prison security and people operating from behind bars.
Here’s what we know so far:
Toulon
According to newspaper Le Parisien, the entrance to Toulon prison was targeted by gunmen in a car at around 1am. The gunmen fled the scene.
Gendarmes found the door had been hit seven times and several boxes of ammunition were left on the ground, Le Parisien reported. No one is believed to have been injured.
Marseille
Several vehicles were set on fire in a street in the 13th district of the southern French city, according to BFMTV, with “DDPF” found spray painted near.
DDPF stands for “Droit des Prisonniers Français” - the rights of French prisoners.
Le Parisien reported that a residence known for housing prison guards in the north of the city was targeted.
The newspaper said two cars were burnt and nine were spray-painted with DDPF. It is not yet clear whether these reports relate to the same cars as those reported by broadcaster BFMTV.
Nanterre
Two people were seen setting fire to a car belonging to prison staff on Monday evening, local reports said.
The car was parked in the prison car park and a petrol can was found nearby.
Nanterre is a suburb of Paris in the north of the country.
Union staff later confirmed staff vehicles were set on fire outside jails in Nanterre, Villepinte, Aix-Luynes, and Valence.
Villepinte
Later at around 10.30pm, two men were seen setting fire to three vehicles parked in the prison car park in Villepinte, another Parisian suburb.
Two of the cars belonged to prison staff, and a can of petrol was also found at the scene.
Union staff later confirmed staff vehicles were set on fire outside jails in Villepinte, Nanterre, Aix-Luynes, and Valence.
Valence
Someone on a scooter set fire to vehicles outside the prison in Valence in southeast France, according to BFMTV.
Meanwhile Le Parisien reported that it was two cars belonging to prison staff which were set on fire in the car park.
Union staff later confirmed staff vehicles were set on fire outside jails in Valence, Villepinte, Nanterre, and Aix-Luynes.
Nîmes
Vehicles were damaged in the southern city of Nîmes.
Local media reported that DDPF was also spraypainted on the vehicles in Nîmes.
Luynes
As in Nîmes, Le Parisien reported the discovery of damaged vehicles sprayed with DDPF in Luynes village in southern France.
BFMTV also said cars had been set alight in a prison carpark. The village is known for its prison and international schools.
Union staff later confirmed staff vehicles were set on fire outside jails in Aix-Luynes, Valence, Villepinte, and Nanterre.
