Eure: 17 people arrested and placed in police custody for trespassing on a Lafarge site during climate action

Europe 1 with AFP // Photo credit: FRANCK FIFE / AFP 3:11 p.m., April 8, 2024

17 people suspected of intrusion and damage to a Lafarge cement plant in Val-de-Reuil, in Eure, in December, were arrested on Monday and placed in police custody, according to the Évreux prosecutor. “At the beginning of the morning, the investigation services arrested 17 people, suspected of having been among the perpetrators of the acts,” said prosecutor Rémi Coutin in a press release. Sixteen of the arrested were in Normandy, and one in Seine-Saint-Denis, all are adults, according to the press release.

Damage estimated at more than 450,000 euros

On December 10, during a national day of mobilization of climate activists against cement manufacturers, around a hundred people entered the Lafarge (Holcim group) industrial site in Val-de-Reuil. "Dressed in white overalls, their faces hidden and wearing gloves", according to the same source, these people had prevented the security agent from leaving his premises before committing "significant damage".

Tags "Tomorrow will be without concrete or will not be", "Lafarge terrorist", "Concrete kills", "Concrete addicts? Who is your dealer? Macron? Daesh? Olympic Games?" as well as the symbol of the “Earth Uprisings” had been noted in “several places”, according to the prosecution. The damage - expanding foam inside several devices, concrete in a water supply, a container of polystyrene balls and ripped bags of cement or even broken windows - is estimated at more than 450,000 euros.

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The activists fled "upon the arrival of a police patrol from the Val-de-Reuil police station, pushing past the police officers" who were unable to arrest them. An investigation had been opened for kidnapping, serious destruction/damage in meetings, participation in a criminal association and violence against persons holding public authority without incapacity. It is entrusted to the Anti-Terrorist Sub-Directorate (SDAT) of the National Directorate of the Judicial Police and the Territorial Directorate of the Judicial Police of Rouen.

On December 10, demonstrations also took place in front of Lafarge sites in Paris, Maine-et-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Ardèche and Allier, to denounce the climate impact of this industry. The production of cement and concrete represents 8% of global CO2 emissions, more than air transport and maritime transport combined, professionals admit.