French police investigation launched after man dies in custody

The Inspection Générale de la Police Nationale (IGPN) has been tasked with investigating the death of a 44-year-old Angolan man at a police station in Seine-Saint-Denis, France. The man, a resident of France since age 8, was taken into custody following an arrest for alleged sexist insults and threats against public officials.

While the victim's lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, has filed a complaint for voluntary violence resulting in death, the prosecutor's office noted that an initial autopsy revealed no traumatic lesions. Further analyses are expected to determine if underlying cardiac issues contributed to the death. The victim had been examined by two doctors prior to his passing on Tuesday afternoon.

According to the Bobigny prosecutor's office, the man's detention had been temporarily delayed due to high alcohol levels following his arrest by municipal police. He was reportedly in cardiorespiratory arrest and could not be resuscitated by firefighters on site.