According to our colleagues at Métropolitain, the public prosecutor for Nîmes, Eric Maurel, opened a preliminary investigation on Wednesday on criminal charges of
attempted murder using incendiary or explosive substances, after a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a fire brigade ambulance from the Nîmes fire station in the early hours of Saturday morning, at around 12.30 am, in the western Pissevin housing estate.
There were three firefighters on board when the incident took place, following an attack by a group of youths who had thrown stones at a Public Security police car. Fortunately, neither the firefighters nor the police officers were injured.
CCTV cameras
According to our information, a fire engine returning from an call-out on Tuesday afternoon in the troubled neighbourhood of Pissevin was once again pelted with stones and other projectiles deliberately thrown by individuals, some of whom were wearing balaclavas.
Officers from the Gard Departmental Security Service – Public Security, Central Police Station – have been put in charge of the investigation by the public prosecutor. They are examining the footage from the CCTV cameras that were seized. Meanwhile, the forensic team is analysing the debris from the incendiary device recovered from the scene of the attack.
The Prefect received a delegation
On Monday, the Prefect of the Gard, Didier Lauga, met with a delegation from the SDIS 30 fire service, including trade union representatives. He stated that
"his deep outrage at this attack; we came very close to the worst". The Prefect pointed out that an agreement signed between the police, the gendarmerie and the Gard Fire and Rescue Service (SDIS) stipulates that a National Police or gendarmerie crew must always accompany a fire engine when the call-out takes place in the ‘sensitive neighbourhoods’ listed in the document.
No police officers
On Friday evening, at around 12.30 am, an incident described by the prefect as ‘spontaneous’ took place in the Pissevin housing estate, without the fire brigade having requested assistance from the police emergency services. Upon realising that the three firefighters were alone in the ambulance, a group of youths set up an ambush and deliberately threw an incendiary device at the emergency vehicle.
The firefighters managed to return to the station and alert the police. Thirty minutes later, the firefighters returned to the scene where the Molotov cocktail had been thrown, accompanied by police patrols, without any stone-throwing occurring.
In recent weeks, firefighters and police officers have no longer been welcome in the Pissevin social housing estate. It has emerged this evening that the firefighters have decided to go on strike.
