France prosecutes rioters after a weekend of violence and looting
French prosecutors have begun charging people held after the weekend riots. The first fast-track trials were set for Monday. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said more than 80% of those held in police custody now face charges, and he said the state had "incontestably failed" over the weekend.
French prosecutors have begun charging people held after the weekend of riots and looting, AFP and Le Progrès reported. The first fast-track trials, known in France as "comparution immédiate," were set for Monday, Le Progrès and Le Dauphiné reported.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said on France 2 on Monday that there were 2,331 police custodies over the weekend, AFP reported. He said 70% of those held were adults, often already known to police, and that more than 80% face prosecution, according to AFP. Dozens have already been placed in pre-trial detention, including 13 in Marseille, Darmanin said, AFP reported.
"I have asked prosecutors to seek pre-trial detention for all those who loot shops and attack police officers," Darmanin said, according to AFP. He also said, "We incontestably failed this weekend," and pointed to a failure of intelligence, AFP reported.
In Saint-Étienne, police arrested 63 people on Saturday, most of them over looting of shops, Le Progrès reported. Prosecutor Anne Gaches called it "a particularly high number," the newspaper reported. About 20 minors face criminal charges, and five were to appear before a youth judge on Monday, Le Progrès reported. Five adults were to face fast-track trials on Monday, with more possible on Wednesday, it reported.
A protester aged 17 lost his right hand to a grenade in Saint-Étienne on Saturday, Le Progrès reported. He was flown to a hospital in Lyon and is in stable condition, and the police and gendarmerie inspectorates are investigating how it happened, the newspaper reported.
In Grenoble, 10 people were to face fast-track trials from 1:30 PM Paris time (7:30 AM ET), Le Dauphiné reported. An anti-repression group called a rally outside the courthouse before the hearings, it reported.
No outcomes from Monday's hearings had been reported by these outlets at the time of writing.
What we know: Prosecutors are pursuing most people held after the riots, and the first fast-track trials were set for Monday.
What we don't: What sentences, if any, the first courts will hand down.
Where outlets agree AFP and Le Progrès report that prosecutors have begun charging people held after the weekend riots and looting.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.