A new step in the investigation into the violence last weekend in Dijon. The prosecution announced on Saturday June 20 the next indictment of four members of the Chechen community, arrested for their participation in reprisal expeditions carried out in the capital of Burgundy.

These four suspects, three men of Russian nationality and a Frenchman of Russian origin, were part of a group of six individuals arrested Thursday as part of the investigation into the actions of members of the Chechen community seeking revenge for the assault of a young person by, according to them, residents of the sensitive district of Grésilles. Two of the suspects have since been exonerated.

These actions were followed by other "urban" type troubles in the Grésilles district, announced the 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, have already been indicted. One of them was imprisoned and the other placed under judicial supervision.

They are prosecuted for criminal association for the preparation of crimes punishable by 10 years in prison and participation in a group for the preparation of violence and degradations.

Flagrancy investigation

The two other Russian suspects, a 23-year-old man living in Saint-Etienne and another 29-year-old resident of Troyes, must be charged with the same charges, as well as for aggravated violence and degradations. The prosecution also requested their detention on remand.

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.

Demonstration Saturday

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.

With AFP

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