"Show the prison staff that we are with them." In the wake of a new series of attacks targeting correctional facilities and prison staff on the night from Monday, April 21, to Tuesday, April 22, French Prime Minister François Bayrou, along with Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, wanted to make a statement. The government trio visited the Saint-Quentin-Fallavier prison (southeast), aware that staff there – pushed to the brink by a wave of fires, vandalism and shootings targeting prison facilities and personnel – were anxiously awaiting them.

On the night of Sunday to Monday, in the neighboring town of Villefontaine, the homes of several prison guards were attacked with fire and gunfire. Twenty-four hours later, a new series of incidents, less severe than those reported over the past 10 days, took place across France. Several vehicles were set on fire in the parking lot of the prison integration and probation service in Caen (northwest); a personal vehicle and a mailbox were tagged "DDPF" for "Defense of the Rights of French Prisoners," a dubious acronym found at many sites targeted by recent attacks, in Oise (north).

You have 84.91% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.