The headquarters of CNews and Europe 1 degraded, acts of “intimidation” which led to the arrest of 21 people

The Paris headquarters of CNews and Europe 1 were targeted by around a hundred people this Saturday, October 17, on the eve of a national day of national mobilization, acts of “intimidation” denounced by these two media outlets in the fold of conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré. “Informing must be able to be done without fear, without intimidation and without violence,” reacted the continuous news channel. “This organized gang intimidation of Europe 1 staff and journalists is unacceptable,” said Donat Vidal Revel, the station’s general director.

Around 7:00 a.m., around a hundred “hooded individuals” blocked access to the parking lot in front of the Lagardère News headquarters in the west of the capital and which also houses the JDD editorial staff, according to the Paris police headquarters. Protesters threw projectiles and broke windows. Images on social media also showed toppled barriers. After intervention by the police, 21 people were arrested, the police headquarters said.

“Attack on democracy”

“We deplore any violence against anyone, whether for us or for our colleagues,” the channel said. “Freedom of the press, essential to our democracy, is also based on the possibility for each journalist to exercise their profession in security, whatever their editorial team.” “Attacking a media outlet is an attack on democracy. Actions which are unfortunately made possible by the deleterious political climate maintained by part of the political class of this country,” said Donat Vidal Revel.

Geoffroy Lejeune, editorial director of JDD, affirmed that “freedom to inform presupposes that each journalist can work without pressure or threat”. “The events that affected the JDD teams remind us how much this requirement must be defended in concrete terms.” On Friday, the Minister of Culture Catherine Pgard deplored on X the “unacceptable” violence committed against journalists on the sidelines of recent high school and student mobilizations.

In the wake of the high school students' movement, several demonstrations are planned for Saturday in France to bring together "angers" and denounce the rising cost of living, supported in particular by former yellow vests, certain unions including the CGT and climate activists.