In the middle of the afternoon, a journalist from the newspaper L'Union was found lying on the ground in the Croix Rouge district in Reims.

He was transferred to the city hospital with a vital prognosis.

The conditions of his assault remain to be determined.

An investigation has been opened for attempted murder.

A photo-journalist for the regional daily L'Union was seriously injured on Saturday in Reims, while he "appeared to cover groups of young people" in the priority area of ​​the Red Cross, and an investigation has been opened for attempted murder, indicate the prefecture and the parquet.

At around 3 p.m., "a journalist from the

L'Union

newspaper

was attacked and seriously injured in circumstances still undetermined, but on a voluntary basis. I therefore opened an investigation for attempted murder, entrusted to the departmental security", said the prosecutor of the Republic of Reims, Matthieu Bourrette.

The photographer "was taken care of by Samu and transferred to the Reims University Hospital, with a vital prognosis", he said.

"It seems that he was present for professional reasons and that he seemed to cover groups of young people. The rest of the circumstances are still unknown and deserve to be clarified", continued the prosecutor.

No arrests were made at this stage, he added.

The journalist "was found on the ground around 3:30 p.m. in the Red Cross district, where there was clearly a youth movement. The police were there, had identified youth movements, some of whom were wearing baseball bats, and reinforcements had been called "to secure the neighborhood," said Marne prefect Pierre N'Gahane. 

A difficult neighborhood, plagued by clashes

"The neighborhood remains a sensitive neighborhood. A year ago, just before confinement, there were two series of clashes between young people from this neighborhood and another neighborhood. Fearing this type of problem, the police occupied space, "said Pierre N'Gahane.

The Union

photographer

"would have decided to come to the scene with a colleague. He arrived a few minutes before her" and she "would have discovered him", he detailed.

The authorities have for the moment "no precise information on what happened, if he received any blows or a projectile. But he was on the ground, bleeding in the ears," he said. he lamented. 

Today a photo-journalist was the victim of a cowardly assault in the exercise of his profession.


Dear @LantenoisChl and dear journalists from @UnionArdennais, be assured of my unfailing support and solidarity in this ordeal.

https://t.co/33nHRa4WbS

- Roselyne Bachelot (@R_Bachelot) February 27, 2021

My thoughts are with the photo-journalist seriously injured in the course of his work in Reims.

Solidarity with the editorial staff of @ UnionArdennais and the whole profession.


The @PoliceNationale is fully mobilized to identify and challenge the perpetrators.

https://t.co/YTiQAi0thq

- Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) February 27, 2021

"My thoughts are with the photo-journalist seriously injured in the course of his work in Reims. Solidarity with the editorial staff of L'Union-L'Ardennais and the entire profession. The national police are fully mobilized to identify and question the authors, "Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted on Saturday evening.

The Minister of Culture, Roselyne Bachelot was also moved by a "cowardly aggression" in a tweet, expressing "solidarity" with the photographer and his editorial staff.