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France: Political Tensions After the Lynching of a 23-Year-Old Student - 11 Arrests

Published February 18, 2026, 14:08
France: Political Tensions After the Lynching of a 23-Year-Old Student - 11 Arrests

The lynching of a 23-year-old student in Lyon, with right-leaning sympathies, during a clash between far-left and far-right groups, has caused political tensions in France. The student, Quentin Deraink, died in hospital from his injuries. 11 people have been arrested. The incident has sparked a political storm, with the La France Insoumise (France Unbowed) party at the center. An associate of a party MP is among those arrested, leading to a ban on his entry into parliament and an initiated process to end the collaboration. There is pressure for the resignation or expulsion of MP Raphaël Arnou from France Unbowed. The leader of the party, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, rejected any involvement and accused the government of “demonizing” the party. The situation is tense, with police preemptively evacuating the headquarters of France Unbowed after a bomb threat. The incident has sparked discussions about political violence and polarization in France.