Europe 1 // Photo credit: JEAN-CHRISTOPHE MILHET / AFP
4:44 p.m., November 28, 2024
A fire took place during the night from Wednesday to Thursday, in the parking lot of the association’s site located at the Nîmes market station. The damage is estimated at 480,000 euros. An investigation is underway to determine the origin of the fire. For the Food Bank, this is indeed “a malicious act”.
Six trucks belonging to the Gard Food Bank were set on fire in Nîmes, causing damage of more than 480,000 euros, AFP learned from the association which filed the complaint.
A “malicious act”
“We are shocked and disappointed. This is a malicious act, confirmed by images from video surveillance cameras, and we have filed a complaint,” reacted Claudine Faure-Comte, project manager of the Gard Food Bank. Shortly before midnight, firefighters intervened on the site of the Nîmes Market Station where vehicles from the Gard Food Bank are usually parked. Four refrigerated trucks and two larger ones with tailgates, all empty, were completely burned.
According to firefighters, three cars and a truck were also affected by the flames. Questioned by AFP, the police confirmed the registration of a complaint, without being able at this stage to confirm the criminal origin of the fire. “Every week, from Monday to Friday, the Gard Food Bank travels to the supermarkets with these trucks in order to collect them. This morning, the volunteers still made the rounds with their own car,” added Ms. Faure-Comte . On social networks, the Gard Food Bank launched a call for donations in order to continue to serve its 91 partner associations and their 42,000 beneficiaries.
