Eleven arrested over killing of French right-wing activist in Lyon

The killing of a right-wing activist on the sidelines of an event held by the left-wing party France Unbowed (LFI) in Lyon was inflaming political tensions on Wednesday.

Prosecutors told dpa that 11 suspects have now been taken into custody in a wave of arrests.

LFI lawmaker Raphaël Arnault said that among them was one of his parliamentary assistants and that the employee’s contract will be terminated.

Media reports later said a second assistant to Arnault had also been arrested in connection with the case and had allegedly been working in the French parliament in Paris under a false name.

The developments are putting LFI under increasing pressure.

Conservative and right-wing politicians have suggested that a far-left group of thugs with links to the party beat the activist to death on the sidelines of a right-wing rally protesting an appearance by LFI Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan in Lyon last week.

According to media reports, several of those arrested are linked to the anti-fascist group Jeune Garde (Young Guard), which was banned last year and which Arnault is said to have co-founded.

Other parties demand consequences

Other parties are now accusing LFI of bearing some responsibility and are calling for consequences. A government spokeswoman demanded that Arnault temporarily step aside, while the far-right National Rally called for his resignation.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who heads the ruling centre-right alliance and is a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, also commented on the platform X.

Without prejudging the outcome of the investigation or ignoring the presumption of innocence, he wrote that LFI must now act: “There needs to be a clean-up in its ranks. And quickly.”

France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon hit back on X: “We do not accept lessons from Sébastien Lecornu. He doesn’t even realize anymore what he’s saying.”

Meanwhile, the party reported a bomb threat at its headquarters in Paris on Wednesday. Police later gave the all-clear after evacuating and checking the building.