Reinforcements in Cavaillon after the fire of four police cars

A unit of CRS 81, police officers specializing in emergency situations, arrived Wednesday evening in Cavaillon after the fire of four police vehicles in front of the police station, a possible response to an anti-drug operation underway in this town. Vaucluse.

During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, shortly before 5:00 a.m., four police cars, three screen-printed and one unmarked, were set on fire. “No injuries were reported despite slight damage to the facades”indicated the Avignon public prosecutor, Florence Galtier, during a press conference on site in the afternoon.

The three police officers present were “terrorized”according to the departmental deputy of the Alliance police union, Grégory Lorient.

“All means are being implemented (…) to challenge the perpetrators as quickly as possible”promised the prosecutor.

A first unit of CRS 81, around forty men, arrived on Wednesday evening, said the prefect of Vaucluse, Thierry Suquet, in Cavaillon, announcing “an additional unit” THURSDAY.

This ” attack “ appears as “a new illustration of the drift our country is facing”estimated for his part the Minister of the Interior. But “the State will not allow itself to be intimidated and we will intensify our fight against drug banditry”promised Bruno Retailleau in a press release, announcing the arrival on site Thursday of Nicolas Daragon, Minister Delegate in charge of Daily Security.

Based in the north of Marseille, the CRS 81, made up of 194 civil servants, is a variation of the CRS 8 created by the former Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin to fight in particular against urban violence.

Deployable 24 hours a day, the members of these companies are called upon to support local forces during urban violence, demonstrations that escalate or to secure major events. They can also provide assistance in operations targeting drug trafficking.

Retaliation?

According to police authorities, this vehicle fire is probably due to “retaliation for police action” ongoing against drug trafficking in this town of just over 25,000 inhabitants.

As part of this operation “clean place”25 people have been taken into custody in recent weeks and 20,000 euros were seized, as well as 15 kilos of cannabis, 6 kilos of cocaine and around ten weapons, long guns or handguns, according to the director interdepartmental officer of the national police, Emmanuel Desjars de Keranrouë.

The prosecutor was more cautious, considering “that at present, no avenue is favored”.

The investigation, for “aggravated destruction committed by an organized gang to the detriment of a person holding public authority”was entrusted to the organized and specialized crime division of Avignon. The penalty incurred is 20 years’ imprisonment and a fine of 150,000 euros, said Ms. Galtier.

On Wednesday evening, the burned vehicles had been removed and this small Provençal town known for its melon was calm, according to AFP journalists.

In the surrounding businesses, that was all they talked about. “It’s a change from talking about the weather but it’s tiring”evades Jérémy Cayol, the local baker.

At the bar opposite the police station, no customers came today. “There is no more respect for anything”regrets Corinne Clareton, the manager, regretting that “Cavaillon is seen as a very difficult city when that is not true”.

In the South-East, Marseille, a port city, is historically an area of ​​trafficking, particularly drugs. But in recent years, medium-sized towns have experienced an increase in drug trafficking and the violence that goes with it, particularly along the Rhône valley and particularly in Vaucluse in Avignon, Cavaillon and Carpentras.

Cavaillon has experienced a few cases of narchomicide in recent years and in 2021 a police officer, Eric Masson, was killed in the street at a deal point in Avignon, worth a 30-year prison sentence for his murderer.

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