The founder of the National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen, died at the age of 96 on Tuesday January 7. An age synonymous with great longevity, and yet this controversial figure in French politics narrowly escaped death in 1976.
It was a night they never forgot. In 1976, Jean-Marie Le Pen and his family were targeted by an attack in their residence, located at 9, Villa Poirier, in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. This assassination attempt left six people injured.
A bomb addressed to him
We must return to the night of November 1 to 2, 1976. An explosion resounded in the 15th arrondissement. A large part of the building in which the Le Pen family lives had just been blown up by more than 5 kilos of dynamite.
In total, twelve apartments were destroyed on five floors. The death toll was six minor injuries, including an infant who fell from the fifth floor and escaped with a broken arm.
One thing is certain: the bomb was indeed aimed at Jean-Marie Le Pen. The latter escaped without a scratch, as did his wife Pierrette and their three daughters: Marie-Caroline, 16 years old, Yann, 13 years old, and Marine, 8 years old.
The attack was shortly after claimed by an anti-fascist committee, but police investigations will never lead to the perpetrators.
No debris from the explosive was found, but investigators said it would have been located on the fourth floor landing of the Le Pen family home.
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