Feb 21, 2026, 9:58 p.mFeb 21, 2026, 9:58 p.m
In Lyon, around 3,200 people took part in a memorial march for a nationalist activist. As the media further reported with reference to the responsible prefecture, around 500 police officers were deployed to secure the event. Several right-wing extremist and strict Catholic groups called for the funeral march. The student’s alleged murder sparked a political crisis in France.
Activists on the move in Lyon.Image: keystone
The authorities had warned of possible clashes between different camps in the run-up to the memorial march. President Emmanuel Macron called for calm before the funeral march and stressed that there was no place for militias, no matter where they came from. He also announced a cabinet meeting on violent groups with party connections.
Activist brutally beaten
The 23-year-old student died a week ago as a result of severe head injuries. He suffered it in an attack on the sidelines of a right-wing rally that accompanied the appearance of Rima Hassan, MEP from the French left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). According to the public prosecutor’s office, the student stood by to protect a small group of women, but was attacked by around 20 masked people and seriously injured.
Investigations and arrests on the left spectrum
Seven suspects have now been arrested. Six are in custody on charges of premeditated murder and serious bodily harm, and another has been placed under judicial supervision. Three of the men are said to belong to the radical left; one is parliamentary assistant to LFI MP Raphaël Arnault and co-founder of the anti-fascist “Jeune Garde” (in German: Young Guard), which media reports say is responsible for the attack.
According to French media, the man killed belonged to various right-wing extremist groups, such as “l’Action française”, was a co-founder of the nationalist-revolutionary group “Allobroges Bourgoin”, and in Lyon he was a member of the right-wing extremist group collective “Audace”.
The incident, documented on video, sparked nationwide outrage and heightened political tensions in France. (dab/sda/dpa)