An open investigation for police violence – Liberation
An investigation was opened at the end of March in Paris for voluntary violence by person depositary of the public authority after The evacuation, on March 18, of several hundred young migrants who occupied the lyric gaiety, said the Paris prosecutor’s office this Thursday, June 12.
These investigations were launched on March 21 following« A report of the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), relating to violence which would have been committed by police officials during the evacuation of the Gaîté Lyrique on March 18, 2025 », said the prosecution. This opening of the investigation allows « The exploitation of the videosurveillances of this event » For these images to be preserved, as is the case during judicial inquiries, underlined the prosecution.
On March 18, after a decree taken by the prefect of police, the police proceeded to evacuate around 450 young migrants, mostly from sub -Saharan Africa. These young people have occupied this cultural place since December 10, owned by the Paris City Hall, asking to be recognized as minors and to be accommodated. Their age is disputed by the municipality and the police headquarters.
As early as mid-December, the establishment, located in the third arrondissement of Paris, had canceled its cultural programming, saying to itself understanding and denouncing « Both the occupation and inaction of the authorities ». And on February 10, the Lyrique gaiety had filed a complaint against X, denouncing in particular damage to property and malicious messages.
On March 18, around 6 am, CRS and mobile gendarmes forced the cords formed before the establishment by several dozen activists in a heated climate. The police then entered the building while young migrants came out with their business. Shortly before 9 am, the police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
The prefect of police then reported 46 arrests. He had also counted six young migrants injured, without the need for medical care. Three other people were taken care of: a migrant, CRS and a journalist injured slightly on the knee.
More than 400 artists, including the novelist Virginie Despentes, the actors Joeystarr, Adèle Haenel and Marina Hands had denounced in a column « Brutality » police intervention.
