The investigation into the violence last weekend in Dijon reached a new stage on Saturday with the indictment of four members of the Chechen community, arrested for their participation in the reprisal expeditions carried out in the Burgundian capital, three of which were immediately placed in pre-trial detention. The fourth suspect remained free under judicial supervision. They are three men of Russian nationality and a Frenchman of Russian origin.
Two suspects without cause
They were part of a group of six individuals arrested on Thursday as part of an investigation into the actions of members of the Chechen community seeking revenge on the assault of a young person by, they said, residents of the sensitive neighborhood of Crackles. Two of the suspects have since been exonerated. These actions were followed by other "urban" type disturbances in the Grésilles district, announced Dijon prosecutor Eric Mathais at a press conference. The violence left 20 injured, two of them serious: one by gunshot and the other in a car accident, the images of which were widely reported on social networks, said the prosecutor.
Two of the suspects, a 53-year-old Russian resident of Dole (Jura) and a 41-year-old Frenchman living in Dijon, are being prosecuted for criminal association for the preparation of offenses punishable by 10 years in prison and participation in a grouping in view of the preparation of violence and degradations. The two other Russian suspects, a 23-year-old man living in Saint-Etienne and another 29-year-old resident in Troyes, were charged with the same charges, as well as for aggravated violence and degradations.
"These people admit having been present for all or part of the events, but they personally dispute having committed violence or degradations," added the prosecutor, adding that the suspects have never been convicted.
"Unpredictable and unusual"
Following the violence that occurred in the nights of Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June, the Dijon prosecution had opened an investigation of flagrance. These facts were followed on June 15 by a show of force of hooded men in the Grésilles district, posing as "we the Arabs" on videos relayed on social networks. The latter appeared equipped with what appeared to be assault rifles or automatic pistols, attacking security cameras and torching vehicles. At the same time, many vehicles were also burned in the neighboring town of Chenôve. An investigation was also opened into these facts.
Calm has returned since Tuesday in the Burgundian capital, where this unprecedented urban violence shocked many inhabitants and caused a strong echo outside the country.
Saturday, a hundred people including residents of Grésilles, defied a prefectural ban to demonstrate in Dijon to demand the resignation of the prefect, accused of laxity in the face of this violence. The small procession tried to reach the prefecture, but it was blocked on the way by the police and turned around before dispersing in calm.
Friday, a large arms search operation, mobilizing some 140 members of the police, seized Les Grésilles 80g of cannabis resin, a knife, 25 molotov cocktails, as well as Belgian license plates, gloves and hoods.
"What we witnessed was unpredictable and unusual," Mathais said on Saturday, saying he was "shocked and concerned about clashes between communities over discrimination and even racism." "The investigation will continue actively with determination," he said.