ADVERTISEMENTA total of 25 individuals suspected of involvement in attacks on France’s prisons and prison guards were detained by French police on Monday.
The swoop came after weeks of investigation into 15 attacks on prisons which occurred across France over a two-week period in April. Close to 200 investigators are working on the probe.
The national anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office stated that Monday’s arrests marked a moment of “significant progress” in the drive to identify the culprits and “commanders” behind the attacks.
Police detained a first wave of 22 suspects at 6am local time Monday, while three more were taken into custody at 10am local time.
Individuals were detained in locations across France, which range from the environs of Paris to Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux.
According to broadcaster Franceinfo, a source close to the case said that the prison attacks appeared to be coordinated and linked to a government crackdown on drug trafficking which was launched in February.
A group calling itself the “defence of the rights of French prisoners” (défense des droits des prisonniers français, or DDPF) has claimed responsibility for the attacks.
The DDPF has targeted prisons, as well as prison officers, posting videos and threats on its Telegram channel.
In a post shared on X Monday morning, French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said he welcomed «the arrest of the presumed perpetrators of the attacks against prison officers and prisons in our country.»
«Strength remains with the law and the Republic in our relentless fight against drug trafficking», added Darmanin.
