On the night of Friday to Saturday, a couple was attacked along the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris, because of their sexual orientation. Four suspects were arrested and taken into custody. The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, said this Sunday morning that she was “very affected” by this attack.
A couple of two men were violently attacked on the night of Friday to Saturday along the Canal Saint-Martin in the 10th arrondissement of Paris “because of their sexual orientation”, the public prosecutor’s office said.
Less than an hour after the incident, four suspects were arrested and taken into custody, the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed at midday on Saturday.
According to Le Parisien, it was around 1am when the police intervened. When the police arrived at 123, quai de Valmy, emergency services were already on the scene. They were dealing with a man lying on the sidewalk, seriously injured in the head by blows from a broken bottle. They stabilized him and transported him to the hospital. His life is not in danger, according to the prosecutor’s office.
Suspects taken into custody
The victim’s partner told the police that he had been the target of a homophobic attack by a group of eight people and gave their description. His arms were covered in marks. He was also taken care of by emergency services and evacuated to hospital.
45 minutes later, four of the alleged attackers were arrested at the corner of Dunkerque and La Fayette streets, not far from the scene of the attack. A witness reportedly recognized them, Le Parisien reports.
While intoxicated, the four suspects were taken into custody. An investigation into the charge of “intentional violence resulting in total incapacity for work for more than 8 days committed in a group with a weapon and due to sexual orientation” was entrusted to the police station of the 10th arrondissement, the Paris prosecutor’s office said.
“Paris is at their side,” affirmed Anne Hidalgo.
The STOP Homophobia association immediately expressed on its website “its deep solidarity” and its “support for the couple”.
The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, reacted this Sunday morning in an Instagram story. “Very touched by the homophobic attack that targeted a couple at the Canal Saint-Martin this weekend. Paris will forever remain this city where we can love each other and live freely, regardless of our gender, sex or sexual orientation,” she assured.
“Paris is at their side. I send them my affectionate thoughts and my full support,” she concluded.
