In Arles, the town hall will build a bulletproof wall to protect the students of a school

Nina Pavan, edited by Romain Rouillard 3:52 p.m., July 15, 2022

To protect children from the various forms of trafficking that poison the lives of some of the inhabitants, the city of Arles has taken a radical decision.

She decided to build a bulletproof wall around a school playground.

An idea born from the death of a student, killed by a stray bullet not far from the establishment. 

With its 2m30 high and ten meters long, this wall of cinder blocks, still unfinished, therefore comes to barricade the courtyard of the school in the Griffeuille district in Arles.

At the microphone of Europe 1, several mothers cannot believe having to come to this and express their resignation.

"I find it quite mind-blowing because I think it's not a way to solve problems," said the mother.

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"It's even heartbreaking. Now, given the events that are happening on Griffeuille and then on other cities, we are obliged to protect the children. But it's really unfortunate", judges this other mother.

Sanctuarize the school

Rachid has lived here for years but now he is afraid to walk outside ever since.

"If I'm there at the wrong time, in the wrong place, it's good, it will be for me the next time. Some people are afraid for their lives", he testifies.

For Théo Pentagrossa, communications manager for the town hall of Arles, this wall is a means of protecting the school. 

“Beyond the drug trafficking that plagues the neighborhood, it is work that we are used to carrying out on other establishments as well. To ensure that what happens in the school stays in the school, but above all that nothing from the outside can disturb the course of a day for a child from Arles who just wants to go to school", he says.

This new wall will be decorated by the children at the start of the school year.