Arrested Isère's prime suspect behind the violent attack on Villeneuve-de-Marc's mayor.
In a dramatic turn of events, the suspect who violently attacked the mayor of Villeneuve-de-Marc, France, was arrested two days after the attack in a nearby locality. The 60-year-old local resident, embroiled in an unresolved property dispute with the mayor, was apprehended by authorities and will face judicial proceedings.
The attack occurred on August 6, 2025, as Mayor Gilles Dussault (63) was walking with his son. The assailant, armed with a white weapon, stabbed the mayor three times in the chest before attempting to run them over with a vehicle. The attacker crashed into a wall, physically assaulted the mayor's son, and then fled on foot.
Mayor Dussault was hospitalized in critical condition at Edouard Herriot hospital in Lyon but his vital prognosis is no longer engaged. His 28-year-old son sustained minor injuries.
The incident has been officially condemned by regional and national officials, including President Emmanuel Macron and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who emphasized the severity and unacceptability of violence against elected officials.
Regarding statistics on attacks on elected officials in recent years, the search results do not provide specific quantitative data or trends. However, the strong condemnation by officials and mention of the attack's seriousness reflect a broader concern over such violence in France. This incident is reported in the context of local political conflicts, often involving disputes such as property or urban planning, which have occasionally led to assaults on elected representatives.
The mayor has since been unable to work for 15 days due to his injuries (ITT). The mayor's son was hospitalized in Vienne following the attack. The attack on the mayor resulted in three wounds, two to the chest and one defensive wound.
The French Association of Mayors (AMF) has declared that the numerous daily attacks on elected officials and the level of violence in these acts should prompt public authorities and citizens to react immediately. The association also reported that attacks on elected officials increased by 13.5% in 2023, but decreased by 9.3% in 2024.
President Macron, in a statement, condemned the attack on the elected official, stating that the Republic must be severe and intractable. The suspect was placed in custody at the Saint-Jean-de-Bournay gendarmerie brigade, and a judicial information has been opened by the criminal pole of the Grenoble tribunal for the case.
[1] Le Figaro, "L'agresseur de Villeneuve-de-Marc est en garde à vue" (The assailant of Villeneuve-de-Marc is in custody), August 8, 2025. [2] Le Parisien, "L'agresseur de Villeneuve-de-Marc arrêté" (The assailant of Villeneuve-de-Marc arrested), August 8, 2025. [3] France Info, "L'agresseur de Villeneuve-de-Marc arrêté" (The assailant of Villeneuve-de-Marc arrested), August 8, 2025. [4] BFMTV, "L'agresseur de Villeneuve-de-Marc arrêté" (The assailant of Villeneuve-de-Marc arrested), August 8, 2025.
- The arrest of the suspect, a local resident embroiled in a property dispute with the mayor, was reported in multiple general-news outlets, including Le Figaro, Le Parisien, France Info, and BFMTV.
- Alongside crime-and-justice sections, the attack on Mayor Gilles Dussault is also a topic of concern in political discussions due to its impact on elected officials' safety and the overall social climate.
