Six remanded in custody over killing of French teenager
Six people have been remanded in
custody over the killing of a French teenager whose death at a village
dance party sparked political controversy in France, prosecutors said
Sunday.
Last weekend a 16-year-old pupil, identified only as Thomas, was
stabbed when a group of outsiders descended on a festive crowd gathered
in Crepol, in the southeastern region of Drome, for a dance party in the
village hall.
He died on his way to hospital. Eight others were injured.
On
Tuesday, nine suspects including three minors were detained in
connection with the teenager's murder. Three are minors, the others are
aged between 19 and 22
After 96 hours in police custody, the suspects were transferred to the
Valence courthouse on Saturday. The public prosecutor's office had
requested the opening of an investigation into charges including
attempted murder and "murder in an organised gang." Nine people have
been placed under investigation "in accordance with the request of the
public prosecutor", prosecutor Laurent de Caigny said in a statement,
without providing further details.
"Six people, including two minors, were remanded in custody," he added.
"Three people, including one minor, were placed under judicial
supervision."
On Saturday, the prosecutor said that the motive and the details of the
crime had not yet been established in full. According to the preliminary
investigation, an altercation that began inside the dance hall,
possibly linked to a remark about the hairstyle of one of the suspects,
continued outside. More young people arrived in one or two cars.
Nine witnesses reported hearing remarks aimed against "white people", said the public prosecutor.
However, de Caigny said that the investigation cannot at this stage
state with certainty that the victims have been targeted on the basis of
their race, ethnicity, or religion.
Most of the suspects admit to having been in Crepol, but deny having stabbed anyone.
On
Wednesday, more than 6,000 people marched in the southeastern town of
Romans-sur-Isere in memory of Thomas. Around 2,000 people attended the
teenager's funeral in the village of Saint-Donat-sur-l'Herbasse on
Friday.
Even before the arrests, far-right politicians had been quick to
blame the attack on youths from immigrant backgrounds from public
housing.
"Now anti-white racism is hitting our countryside,"
Marion Marechal, the leading candidate for the far-right Reconquete!
party of ex-presidential hopeful Eric Zemmour in next year's European
elections, has claimed on X, formerly Twitter.
