A nursery in the popular district of Villeneuve was closed in Grenoble following threats from a group of dealers.
Employees exercised their right of withdrawal, while police intervened to repossess the equipment.
For ten days, a municipal crèche in a working-class district of Grenoble has been closed following threats from a group of dealers against the staff.
Employees exercised their right of withdrawal on January 4, after being intimidated by young people who were holding a point of deal.
Since that date, the town hall has decided to close the nursery until further notice.
A decision that raises questions in Grenoble.
A nursery that has become a point of deal
The decision to close the nursery can indeed be interpreted as a victory for the dealers, since they had made the premises near the boiler room of the nursery their point of deal.
These young people did not appreciate being dislodged last week by the police, and they therefore returned to threaten the employees of this nursery which welcomes 50 children.
Staff have exercised their right of withdrawal.
The city has made the decision to close this facility to allow the situation to calm down.
The children were referred to other establishments in the early childhood sector.
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Strong criticism of the municipal opposition and the police
This closure provoked the indignation of the municipal opposition to the mayor of Grenoble, EELV Eric Piolle.
The police also expressed their anger.
"We can deplore arson, damage to the Villeneuve sector and other areas of Grenoble all year round. Gyms and a football club have been set on fire," said Brice Gajean, from the SGP- union. Police Unit, at the microphone of Europe 1.
He also criticized the attitude of the mayor of the city, whom he accuses of not reacting to these acts of violence.
"We do not hear the mayor of Grenoble at the moment. We have already had debates with him on facts which happened in districts of the city. Obviously his priority is not the police, delinquency or safety of his fellow citizens. The establishment of video protection would greatly help us ", asked the trade unionist.
A possible reopening next week
But for the moment, there are no plans to set up video protection.
The police have nevertheless regained possession of the area and the boiler room is being redeveloped so that it can no longer be used by dealers.
A reopening of the nursery from next week is now being discussed.
The public prosecutor of Grenoble, Eric Vaillant, opened an investigation following complaints filed by the management of the establishment in question to identify the perpetrators.
It was entrusted to the police officers of the Departmental Security.