The arson which occurred on Sunday 15 in Poitiers took place in the Trois-Cités district, known to be affected by problems linked to drug trafficking and violence associated with rival gangs.
The incident occurred early in the morning, around 6 a.m.from supermarket trolleys and a scooter parked at the foot of a building. This neighborhood has recently been the scene of several anti-drug operations, which could explain the context of this criminal act. Two other fires were observed from trash cans pushed onto the public highway nearby, confirming the criminal nature of the act.
The Trois-Cités district has seen several police interventions in recent monthsnotably in October and November 2024, aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks, ranging from cannabis to cocaine and heroin. These operations led to arrests and searchesillustrating significant drug trafficking activity.
Control of deal points
Tensions between different gangs for control of deal points occasionally led to urban violence. A major incident took place on October 31, 2024 with a shooting which left several injured, including a young person between life and deathillustrating the rivalries and settling of scores linked to drug trafficking.
The fire quickly spread across four floors of the building, causing theevacuation of 19 residents. A 75-year-old woman was seriously injured with burns to her respiratory tract and was transported in absolute emergency to Poitiers University Hospital. As of mid-afternoon Sunday, the woman remained hospitalized “for smoke intoxication”according to the Poitiers public prosecutor. Three children and an adult were also evacuated in relative emergency.
A flagrant investigation has been opened “for acts of destruction of property by means dangerous to people”according to the prosecutor, who entrusted the investigations to the services of the Poitiers police station.
The victims found refuge in a local public school. An investigation was opened to “damage by arson », with the scientific police taking samples to understand the exact circumstances of the fire. The Trois-Cités district is under increased police surveillance due to drug trafficking which has been dismantled there for several months. It was noted that the bottom of the burned building served as a deal point before its dismantling the previous summer.
