In a tragic incident that unfolded in Lyon, a 23-year-old student named Quentin passed away from severe injuries sustained during an assault. The attack occurred on Thursday evening, shortly after a conference led by MEP Rima Hassan. The circumstances surrounding this fatal encounter remain under investigation.
Details of the Incident
The Lyon Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Quentin’s death on Saturday, February 14. He had spent nearly 48 hours in the hospital following the brutal attack that left him in critical condition, suffering a severe head injury. Eyewitness accounts describe a violent clash involving two groups of around twenty individuals facing off against each other.
Eyewitness Accounts
According to a local resident who witnessed the attack, one group began to “lynch” Quentin once he was on the ground. Video footage captured by bystanders shows multiple assailants beating a young man, while cries of distress could be heard. Some of his companions managed to flee, but Quentin remained unresponsive on the pavement.
Context of the Assault
Quentin, a mathematics student, was reportedly affiliated with the Némésis identity group, which was at the conference to disrupt the event. Members of this far-right group claimed that Quentin was volunteering for security and was attacked by anti-fascist activists. However, his family contended that he was not involved in security roles at the time of the assault.
- Date of Assault: February 12
- Victim: Quentin, 23, mathematics student
- Location: Near the Institute of Political Studies (IEP), Lyon
Ongoing Investigation and Aftermath
The Lyon Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation focusing on aggravated homicide, alongside other aggravated violence charges. The victim’s family has condemned the assault as a crime, with their lawyer filing a complaint for organized murder. They argue that the incident was not a mere street fight but a premeditated attack.
In the aftermath, protests erupted in the city a day after the attack, causing further tensions. Masked individuals clashed with members of the identity group, leading to confrontations near the original site of the assault. Both Quentin’s family and President Emmanuel Macron have called for calm and urged that the assailants face justice.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has instructed local authorities to enhance security measures surrounding political gatherings and campaign offices in light of the escalating tensions.
