Seine-et-Marne: an elected official doused with gasoline in front of a high school in Chelles, an investigation opened for attempted intentional homicide

Angéla Avond, deputy mayor of Chelles (Seine-et-Marne) and regional councilor, received Tuesday morning “on the chest a closed and full bottle”, according to the public prosecutor of Meaux. On impact, “a yellow liquid smelling of gasoline coming from the bottle” spilled on her. The shock took her breath away and forced her to the ground. The elected official was in front of the establishment “in the company of parents” to “support students wishing to return to classes”. She “interacted with young people”, according to the prosecution. A police source cited by AFP indicates that they were trying to prevent the burning of trash cans near the high school.

Investigation opened for attempted intentional homicide

At the end of the morning, Angéla Avond went to the Chelles police station to file a complaint. The Meaux public prosecutor has opened a flagrant investigation for “attempted intentional homicide against a person holding public authority”. He specifies that Angéla Avond’s elected status is “very well known to the residents of the town”.

The prosecution also indicates that three high school students, aged 15 to 17, were arrested on site and placed in police custody for other facts: participation in a crowd, violence against police officers targeted by mortar fire and damage by incendiary means. “Based on the evidence, none of these three people was placed in police custody due to the events committed against the deputy mayor,” specifies the prosecutor. He thus indicates that “investigations are continuing in order to identify the author of these facts”. The investigation was entrusted to the Interdepartmental Judicial Police Service of Seine-et-Marne.

Political condemnations

Within the government, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez quickly denounced an attack on X committed “by a student” and “urban violence”, calling for “the most firm and determined response”. Édouard Geffray, Minister of National Education, also condemned the facts, calling them “behavior which is called a crime”. He added that Angéla Avond must receive the support of “all of society”.

Valérie Pécresse, president of Île-de-France, announced that the Region would take civil action and asked that “calm return to our high schools”. Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly, also condemned the attack: “Anyone who attacks an elected official is attacking democracy and we will not let anything go.” Bruno Retailleau denounced a “criminal act” and called for the perpetrators to be “found, judged and severely punished”. The deputy for Seine-et-Marne Jean-Louis Thiériot gave his support to Angéla Avond, denouncing “indiscriminate violence against elected officials”. He concluded: “Law and order everywhere. Never litters her!”

To AFP, the High School Union (USL) “strongly condemned” the violence. However, she believes that these tensions “reflect […] the lack of response from the executive, the consequences of which fall on education personnel”. At 9:30 this morning, 49 high schools were blocked in France, or 1.3% of some 3,700 establishments, according to the Ministry of Education.