Fire attempt in Liancourt: prison agents targeted

During the night, a couple of penitentiary agents escapes an attempted fire in Liancourt. Criminal act or revenge? The investigation is intensifying …

It is an hour in the morning in a peaceful street in Liancourt, a small town in Oise. Suddenly, a smell of gasoline invades the air, followed by a flames. The house of a couple of penitentiary agents, employees at the local prison center, is the target of an attack as daring as they are worrying. This event, which occurred on the night of May 5 to 6, 2025, is not a simple news item: it is part of a wave of violence aimed at prisons and their staff through France. What does this attempt to fire tensions around the prison system reveal?

A targeted attack in a silent night

In Liancourt, the usual calm of this town in Oise was broken by an act of exceptional gravity. Around one in the morning, individuals sprayed the facade and the cellar of a petrol house before setting it on fire. The target? A couple of prison supervisors, employees at the detention center located a few kilometers away. If the flames damaged the front door, they fortunately did not penetrate inside, avoiding a tragedy. The woman, present at the time of the facts, alerted the emergency services in time, a reflex which probably saved lives.

The residents of the district, shocked, are struggling to achieve what happened. “We have seen the gyrophares of firefighters and gendarmes around 2:30,” says a neighbor. “In such a quiet street, it’s scary. This attack is not an isolated incident: it is part of a series of violent acts targeting prison agents and prison establishments in France, a phenomenon that alarms authorities and unions.

A context of prison tensions

For several weeks, French prisons have been under pressure. Coordinated attacks, marked by vehicle fires, demanding tags and even automatic weapons fire, target prison centers and their employees. In Liancourt, this criminal fire is perceived as an escalation. “We had this fear that something happened,” says a colleague from the victims, on condition of anonymity. Recurrence of these acts, often accompanied by the acronym DDPF (“Defense of the rights of French prisoners”), suggests an organization behind these violence.

“It’s an attempted homicide!” If she had been asleep, we could have found her calcined. »»

A union representative

The Liancourt penitentiary center, like others in France, is faced with structural challenges: prison overcrowding, lack of enrollment and increasing tensions between prisoners and supervisors. These conditions create fertile land for acts of reprisals. But why do the homes of the agents become targets? The answer perhaps lies in a desire for intimidation, aimed at hitting the supervisors where they feel most safe: at home.

A current survey: towards a criminal track

The Beauvais prosecutor’s office reacted quickly, opening an investigation for “degradation of a property by a dangerous means for people” due to the quality of the victims, depositaries of the public authority. The first elements point to a premeditated act: fuel cans have been found nearby, and the exits of the accommodation were obstructed, strengthening the thesis of an attempted homicide. “A strong smell of essence has been felt on the facade,” confirmed the prosecutor, stressing the danger of the act.

The gendarmes, mobilized on the spot, explore all the tracks. Is it a personal revenge linked to an incident in prison? Of an action orchestrated by a group claiming grievances against the prison system? Investigations are also oriented towards a possible link with the recent attacks claimed by the mysterious group DDPFwhose name returns in several similar incidents across the country.

Fear at the heart of homes

For penitentiary agents, this event is a blow. “We no longer feel safe, even with us,” said a supervisor in the center of Liancourt. The woman targeted by the attack, although deeply shocked, displays remarkable resilience. “I’m not going to give up,” she said, determined to continue her job despite the risks. This bravery, shared by many of his colleagues, contrasts with growing anxiety within the profession.

The unions sound the alarm. They denounce a lack of means to protect agents, both in prisons and their homes. “We need concrete measures: reinforced patrols, anonymization of personal data, and exemplary sanctions for the authors,” insists a union representative. Some go further, demanding the right to carry a weapon outside the service, a controversial proposal but revealing the climate of fear.

A national phenomenon: pressure prisons

Liancourt fire is only the tip of the iceberg. Since April 2025, attacks on prisons have multiplied. Flated vehicles, tagged homes, suspect drone overflies: incidents are linked, touching establishments in Oise, Seine-et-Marne, Toulouse or Lyon. On May 3, the Paris prosecutor announced the incarceration of 19 people as part of an investigation into this violence, but the acts continue.

The claims associated with the acronym DDPF Point the finger at real problems: prison overcrowding, degraded conditions of detention, excavations deemed humiliating. But the methods used – targeted violence and intimidation – throw a shadow on these claims. “We cannot justify such acts, even by legitimate grievances,” says a former director of prison. The debate is complex: how to respond to prison tensions without giving in to fear?

What solutions to soothe tensions?

Faced with this wave of violence, the authorities are under pressure. The Ministry of Justice has strengthened surveillance around penitentiary and homes of agents. Additional patrols have been deployed, and safety reminders – such as avoiding bringing the uniform outside the service – have been broadcast. But these measures, although necessary, seem insufficient to restore confidence.

Unions are calling for a deep reform of the prison system. Among the proposals:

• Recruitment of agents To overcome the lack of workforce.
• Improvement of working conditions To reduce tensions.
• Reinforced protection personal data from the supervisors.
• Sanctions accrues against attack authors.

In parallel, some experts plead for a dialogue with prisoners in order to defuse conflicts. “We must treat deep causes, such as overcrowding and lack of perspectives for prisoners,” said a sociologist specializing in prison issues. A balanced approach, combining repression and prevention, could appease long -term tensions.

A challenge for society

Liancourt’s attack goes beyond a simple news item. She asks a fundamental question: how to guarantee the security of those who ensure ours? Penitentiary agents, often in the shadows, play a key role in the functioning of justice. Their growing exposure to violence, including in their privacy, is an alarm signal for society as a whole.

As the investigation is undergoing its course, the inhabitants of Liancourt remain on the alert. “We hope it will not happen again,” whispers a local resident. For penitentiary agents, resilience is in order, but the feeling of insecurity persists. One thing is certain: this fire, far from being an isolated incident, calls for urgent and concerted answers.