French justice minister labels prison attacks as ‘terrorist acts’

ISTANBUL

French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said late Tuesday that the prison attacks are a "terrorist act" as the country is facing a wave of attacks targeting prison facilities.

"The opening of an investigation by the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office is welcome. These are clearly terrorist attacks," Darmanin said, following "coordinated" incidents involving arson and gunfire at multiple prison sites.

In the latest incident, three vehicles were set on fire early Wednesday morning in the staff parking lot of the Tarascon detention center in southern France, according to police sources cited by BFMTV.

The blaze occurred around 5.20 am local time (0320GMT) in a fenced area reserved for prison staff and secured by a digital code, said Tarascon prosecutor Laurent Gumbau.

No slogans or messages were found at the scene, he added.

Separately, a fire was reported in the entrance hall of a residential building housing a prison officer near Meaux-Chauconin-Neufmontiers in Seine-et-Marne.

The acronym "DDPF," referring to the group Defense of French Prisoners, was found sprayed on a wall. This group has previously claimed responsibility for similar attacks on French correctional facilities via social media.

"These are clearly people trying to intimidate the State," Darmanin told CNews.

"They are doing this because we are taking strong measures against the leniency that may have prevailed in the prison system," he said.

He pointed to ongoing criminal activity orchestrated from inside French prisons, including drug trafficking, contract killings, money laundering, and threats to police and judiciary officials, as justification for recent reforms.

Since Sunday, prisons in Toulon, Nanterre, Valence, Luynes, and Agen have faced similar incidents, including vehicle fires and automatic weapon attacks.