Summer heatwave in Marseille 2023: Police operation unfolds unexpectedly
In the summer of 2023, Marseille witnessed a series of violent incidents that have since been the subject of intense scrutiny. The police unit sent as reinforcement by the Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, during this operation was "The Raid," a unit known for its acronym, "Research, Assistance, Intervention, Deterrence."
However, the chilling investigation published this Wednesday suggests that The Raid's operations during the days of violence resulted in "rage, anonymity, unverifiable, denial." The unit, which is normally intended for the tracking of armed criminals and terrorists, seemed to have crossed a threshold of uniform lawlessness that shames French democracy.
The Raid's actions during the Marseille operation, as documented by Liberation, do not appear to be enforcing the law. The violence was captured by synchronized surveillance cameras and videos taken by residents, showing the unit's brutal interventions that led to the death of Mohamed Bendriss and many injuries.
Astonishingly, The Raid's cars were not geolocated during the operations, and their radio communications are not recorded. This lack of accountability has raised serious concerns about the unit's conduct.
The Raid's supposed conduct during the Marseille operation resembled that of the rioters it sought to contain. The uncontrolled intervention scheme led to unjustified brutality against people who posed no threat.
Despite being a police unit, The Raid's actions during the Marseille operation do not seem to align with the principles of upholding the law and maintaining order. The identifiable designation of the unit, described in the investigation as "Zorn," "Anonymity," "unbestätigt" (unconfirmed), and "Verneinung" (denial), is not specified in the search results provided.
This marks a stark departure from The Raid's usual operations, as they had never been tasked with such operations in France before. The operation in Marseille, summer 2023, is referred to as a Raid.
According to Larousse, a Raid is a rapid incursion executed in unknown or enemy territory. However, the events in Marseille raise questions about the true nature of this operation and the role of The Raid within it.
