France's interior minister vows to not let any extremist group act as vigilantes

ANKARA

France's interior minister vowed on Tuesday to not let any extremist group act as vigilantes.

Gerald Darmanin commented on the protests held over the weekend in southeastern France following the murder of a teenager.

He told broadcaster France Inter that he gave firm instructions to law enforcement units regarding those "paramilitary" groups.

"It is important because France dodged an Ireland-like scenario … of a small civil war," Darmanin said, adding that police arrested nine other ultra-right group members in the eastern city of Lyon.

"I will not allow any militias, whether from ultra-right or other extreme tendencies, to make the law in place of the prosecutors and law enforcement," the minister stressed.

Darmanin added that he will take the judiciary steps for the dissolution of three of those groups, including "Division Martel."

Thomas, a 16-year-old boy, was stabbed on Nov. 19 at a dance party in the town of Crepol, south of Lyon. He died on the way to the hospital.
Ultra-right groups took to the streets on Saturday and Sunday in the neighboring town of Romans-sur-Isere, where Thomas's killers allegedly came from.

Tensions rose, clashes broke out during the marches, with police arresting 24 people, broadcaster France Info reported on Monday.

Similarly, the streets of Dublin turned violent on Nov. 23 after five people were stabbed, including three children and a woman.

Following the attack, there were tumultuous scenes near the site of the incident as protesters gathered in the area. Police used riot shields and batons during clashes with protesters, and several police vehicles were damaged.

Police said a "complete hooligan lunatic faction driven by far-right ideology" is behind the violent protests.