Saint-Charles station in Marseille.
-
ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT / AFP
Thomas, 23, claims to have been the victim of violence by SNCF security officers during a check at Saint-Charles station in Marseille.
According to his version, after putting his feet on a seat, the agents came to check him and got him out of the train, accusing him of not having a mask, while Thomas assures us that he was wearing one.
SNCF affirms that Thomas was not wearing a mask: "He did not take off his mask to drink, he simply did not have one".
Two hundred euros fine and violence that he still does not understand.
Thomas, 23, explains that he was violently attacked by several SNCF security officers on Saturday at Saint Charles station in Marseille.
Arrived from Strasbourg, he only had to join Aubagne from Marseille, via a TER.
“I got into the train and put my feet on the seat in front of me.
I was exhausted.
There, an agent signals me with a flash from the platform to ask me to remove my feet, which I do, ”explains Thomas.
Except that the agents get on the train and come to check the young man.
“They asked for my ticket, which I had, and my identity card, which I thought I had forgotten.
They searched my bag without my consent, and found my ID card at the back.
They immediately called me a liar.
During this time, I took off my mask to take a sip of water, and they started accusing me of not having a mask.
While from the start, I had it, ”he says.
Exited manu militari
It was from this moment that things turned sour, according to his account.
“They wanted to get me off the train because I didn't have the mask on and told me I just had to take the next train and pay for a ticket again.
Except I was going to my mother-in-law's funeral, I couldn't take the next train.
So I refused to go out, explaining the situation to them.
There they grabbed me and violently threw me off the train, twisting my arm and pinching me at the neck, ”describes the young man.
Who receives two fines of 100 euros each, one for the feet, another for the mask, according to him.
"Violence by SNCF agents" in a train?
Back on a viral video https://t.co/1Q5oz1CQhw
- 20 Minutes (@ 20Minutes) June 17, 2020
While doing some research on the Internet, he came across an article in 20 Minutes deciphering a video sequence in which we see agents violently controlling a young man, without a mask, on a train between Marseille and Nice.
"There I recognized the woman who was with the agents, but who did not hit me, and another agent who attacked me", explains Thomas, who decides to contact us.
"Very sensitive subject"
Since then he has lodged a complaint with the Roquevaire gendarmerie, and had his injuries noted by a forensic doctor.
"She immediately established that the bruises I had on my body dated from Saturday, and she noted signs of pinching.
She also made me see a psychologist who was able to establish that I had suffered a slight trauma, ”explains Thomas.
SNCF explains that it quickly took up "this very sensitive subject".
"We were able to establish thanks to mission reports that it could not be the same agents seen in the video of the article", details the SNCF.
“I had my mask on!
"
She also claims that Thomas was not wearing a mask.
"He did not take off his mask to drink, he simply did not have one," adds SNCF.
She nevertheless admits that Thomas was taken out of the train "with harshness, but without blow or violence", after two injunctions asking him to get out of the train.
Except that Thomas persists in his version: “I had my mask!
I'm waiting to see the videos, and even those on the platform on which we can see that even when they get me off the train I have my mask.
And I'm sure I recognize the woman, who is clearly visible on the video, and the other agent ”.
SNCF reaffirms, for its part, that it is ready to provide the videos in the event of legal action.
Miscellaneous
Marseille: a man dies in the fire of a Roma camp
Society
Bouches-du-Rhône: The uncertain future of the Gardanne coal-fired power station
Marseilles
Violence
Train
Transport
Society