What was meant to be a peaceful demonstration ended in an assault on the fringes of a pro-Palestinian rally. A member of the Insoumis branch in Béziers was placed in police custody on charges of violence. The Toulouse public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation for deliberate violence on grounds of race or religion.
This Saturday, on Land Day, a peace rally in solidarity with Palestine was organised. Nearly 1,000 participants marched through the streets of Toulouse despite adverse weather conditions. The event drew activists from across the Occitanie region, who came, according to some participants, “to express their disgust at Israel and its all-out war policy.” Among them was a member of La France insoumise from Béziers. This 57-year-old man, a former soldier, reportedly spotted the regional president of the Consistoire de France — who is also a member of the CRIF — on the sidelines of the march. The Consistoire de France is the central representative institution of the Jewish community in France. The presence of one of its representatives near the crowd is said to have caused a disturbance. The 61-year-old victim was allegedly pushed off his bicycle by the Insoumis member before being shoved. His injuries are minor. The victim left the scene before filing a complaint. He reportedly stated that his attackers had asked whether he was indeed Jewish before turning on him.
A statement from LFI
The suspect was apprehended at the end of the demonstration. This Béziers politician was placed in police custody. Already known to the judicial authorities, the suspect gave his account of events before being released, while investigators gather evidence and witness statements. He reportedly acknowledged being the perpetrator of the violence. La France insoumise was quick to condemn the arrest. According to a statement published on its social media channels, the perpetrator had allegedly been deliberately provoked and attacked by the victim. While law enforcement has ruled nothing out, this version of events is not currently the working theory favoured by the national police at the outset of this preliminary investigation.
