French 'ultra-left' behind killing of right-wing youth, says justice minister Darmanin
France's Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin leaves after the weekly cabinet meeting at the Elysée Presidential Palace in Paris on February 11, 2026. BERTRAND GUAY / AFP The "ultra-left" in France was behind the deadly beating of a French youth aligned with the far right whose death has inflamed political tensions in the country, the justice minister said on Sunday, February 15. Gérald Darmanin also accused hard-left politicians, including from the La France Insoumise (LFI) party, the largest left-wing faction in parliament, of fueling violence with their language. The victim, identified only as Quentin, aged 23, had been hospitalized and placed into a coma on Thursday after being attacked in the southeastern city of Lyon. Supporters said he was providing security at a protest against an appearance by Rima Hassan, an LFI member of the European Parliament, at the Lyon branch of the Sciences Po university when he was assaulted by a gang of rival activists. The office of the Lyon prosecutor on Saturday told AFP he had died of his wounds. An investigation has been opened into suspected aggravated manslaughter, it has said, adding Sunday that "significant" testimony had already been gathered and investigators were working on identifying the perpetrators. "It was clearly the ultra left that killed him," Darmanin told RTL television. "There are indeed speeches, particularly from La France Insoumise and the ultra-left, which unfortunately lead to unbridled violence on social networks and then in the physical world," he said. "Words can kill," Darmanin added, accusing Hassan and LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon of "not having a word to say for the family of the young man." According to the Nemesis collective, which is close to the far right, Quentin was providing security for its protesters and was assaulted by "anti-fascist" activists. The family's lawyer said in a statement that Quentin appeared to have been ambushed by "organized and trained individuals, vastly superior in number and armed, some with their faces masked." The incident has further fueled tensions between France's far right and radical left ahead of municipal elections nationwide in March and the 2027 presidential election. Three-time presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who is still hoping to stand in 2027 despite a graft conviction, said on X that the "barbarians responsible for this lynching" should be brought to justice. Demonstrations called by the far right in memory of Quentin took place in the southern city of Montpellier and Paris, where protesters unfurled a banner reading "antifa murderers, justice for Quentin." The far right has pointed the finger at La Jeune Garde ("Young Guard"), an anti-fascist youth offshoot of LFI. But its founder Raphaël Arnault, an LFI lawmaker, has expressed his "horror" at the fatal beating. Partner service Learn French with Gymglish Thanks to a daily lesson, an original story and a personalized correction, in 15 minutes per day. Try for free Help us improve Le Monde in English Dear reader, We’d love to hear your thoughts on Le Monde in English! Take this quick survey to help us improve it for you. Take the survey Newsletter LE MONDE IN ENGLISH Sign up to receive our daily selection of "Le Monde" articles translated into English. Sign up New Le Monde’s app Get the most out of your experience: download the app to enjoy Le Monde in English anywhere, anytime Download Newsletter M International Sign up to get the best of M le Magazine du Monde twice a month, straight to your inbox. Sign up now LFI lawmaker Eric Coquerel, speaking to Franceinfo, condemned "all political violence" but said the activists responsible for Hassan's security "were in no way involved in what happened." He pointed instead to a particular "context" in the southeastern city marked by violence from "far-right groups." President Emmanuel Macron has called for "calm" and "restraint." Lyon's mayor, Grégory Doucet, a Green, who is standing for re-election next month, said what happened was "a tragedy" and added that "such an outburst of violence in the heart of the city is unacceptable." At Saint George's Church in Lyon, which the young man attended and where he volunteered for charities, priest Laurent Spriet called on Sunday for prayers "for the peace of Quentin's soul." "Everything in its own time. Now is for compassion, for respect, for prayer, for letting the police and the justice system do their work," he said. Le Monde with AFP
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