According to several documents reviewed by Le Monde, the actions targeting various French penitentiary facilities, staff residences and youth judicial protection buildings revealed methods as varied as the motivations of their perpetrators. The attacks were prepared, coordinated and sometimes preceded by reconnaissance, yet are still difficult to attribute to a single group of perpetrators. Since April 13, 30 vehicles have been destroyed or damaged in about 10 incidents.

The first incidents date back to the night of April 13, around 11 pm, when seven vehicles were set on fire in the parking area of the Ecole nationale d'administration pénitentiaire (National School of Penitentiary Administration) in the southwestern city of Agen. A witness filmed the scene, and investigators managed to identify a suspicious vehicle. Its owner was arrested in the early morning hours but was quickly ruled out as a suspect. Later, a video was posted on Telegram: Two hooded individuals poured gasoline on vehicles and then set them on fire. The National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor's Office has taken over the investigation.

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