Authorities in France have apprehended 25 individuals as part of their investigation into the assaults on prisons.
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Prison Attacks Across France Prompt Mass Arrests
In a significant turn of events, French authorities rounded up 25 individuals suspected of involvement in attacks on France's prisons and prison guards, following a two-week spree in April.
The arrests, hailed as a "moment of significant progress," came after weeks of intense investigation into coordinated attacks on prisons that took place across France over the said period. Approximately 200 investigators are currently working on the case.
On Monday, the national anti-terrorist prosecutor's office announced the arrests, highlighting the importance of this step in identifying the masterminds and perpetrators behind the attacks.
The initial wave of detentions occurred at 6am local time, with another three individuals being apprehended at 10am. The suspects were seized in various locations around France, ranging from the outskirts of Paris to Marseille, Lyon, and Bordeaux.
Initial reports suggest that the prison attacks may have been linked to a government crackdown on drug trafficking, which commenced in February. A source close to the case, speaking to broadcaster Franceinfo, hinted at this possibility.
A previously unknown group calling itself the "Defense of the Rights of French Prisoners" (DDPF) has claimed responsibility for the attacks. The DDPF has been active on platforms like Telegram, posting videos and threats in support of their cause.
While the DDPF denies being a terrorist organization, asserting that their actions are aimed at combating human rights abuses within prisons, French authorities classify the attacks as "terrorist acts." The government's stance is based on the synchronized nature of the attacks and their intent to "severely disrupt public order."
The background of the DDPF remains a topic of debate. Some investigators see the group as a militant activist organization, while others believe it serves as a front for drug traffickers. The Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office cites the attacks’ coordinated nature and the disruption of public order as justifying their involvement in the case.
French prisons have long been associated with drug networks, with recent narcotics seizures amounting to more than €10 million. In light of these events, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin vowed to continue anti-trafficking measures, describing the violence as an attempt to "destabilize the state."
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Enrichment Data:
The DDPF is a previously unknown group that emerged during the April 2025 prison attacks in France. Key details include:- Tactics: Conducted arson, gunfire, and property destruction at prisons in Toulon, Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Valence, Nîmes, Luynes, Villepinte, Nanterre, and Tarascon.- Signature: Left "DDPF" graffiti at attack sites, claiming advocacy for prisoners' rights.
Investigators remain uncertain whether the DDPF represents a militant activist group or a front for drug traffickers. The group denies being a terrorist organization, stating their actions aim to combat human rights abuses in prisons. French authorities classify the attacks as "terrorist acts," linking them to the government’s intensified crackdown on drug trafficking networks operating in prisons. Recent record cocaine seizures and stricter prison controls allegedly triggered retaliatory intimidation.
- The arrests of the 25 individuals, associated with the coordinated prison attacks across France in April, were a "moment of significant progress" in the ongoing investigation, as reported by the national anti-terrorist prosecutor's office on Monday.
- The previously unknown group responsible for the attacks, known as the "Defense of the Rights of French Prisoners" (DDPF), has been active on platforms like Telegram, posting videos and threats in support of their cause, though they have been classified as a terrorist organization by French authorities.
- In General News and Crime & Justice sections on LinkedIn, the ongoing investigation into the DDPF, which is linked to war-and-conflicts and politics due to its coordinated nature and assumed role in drug trafficking, is becoming a hot topic of discussion.
- As the investigation unfolds, shortcuts are being explored to identify the masterminds behind the attacks, with the intent of dismantling the suspected drug trafficking networks operating within French prisons and curbing the violence that has been growing as a response to the government's crackdown efforts.
