France detains two minors for lynching undercover officer

Two minors, aged 15 and 17, have been detained in Belfort, France, following the lynching of an undercover police officer during recent student protests. The suspects face charges of aggravated violence, and an investigation into attempted murder has been launched.

The incident occurred after a struggle to detain a militant. The officer was surrounded and kicked in the head until losing consciousness. Video of the attack circulated widely on social media, causing significant public and political outcry amid escalating violence in student demonstrations.

Controversy remains regarding the officer's conduct during the struggle. While the Belfort Prosecutor's Office denied claims that the officer attempted to drown the individual, stating the officer placed him ‘face down in the water’ but could not fully handcuff him due to equipment failure, the detainee's lawyer, Arié Halimi, has filed a complaint against the officer for attempted homicide.