Coronavirus: investigation opened after threats against Professor Raoult

An investigation was opened following " acts of intimidation " targeting Marseille doctor Didier Raoult, whose recommendations for a chloroquine treatment of Covid-19 patients are controversial, said the prosecutor's office on Thursday Nantes. " An investigation is underway for acts of intimidation but not death threats ," said Pierre Sennès, prosecutor of the Republic of Nantes. He indicated that the parquet floor of Nantes had been seized because the origin of the telephone call aiming the director of the hospital-university institute (IHU) Mediterranean is in Nantes.

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Initially opened by the Marseille prosecutor's office, the investigation " was transmitted to the public prosecutor of Nantes, because of the domicile of the alleged perpetrator ," the Marseille prosecutor had told AFP earlier Dominique Laurens, confirming information from the newspaper La Provence .

According to La Provence, this investigation was opened following threats received by Professor Raoult on March 1 and 2. The telephone used could be that of a doctor from the Nantes University Hospital, according to Le Canard Enchaîné in its weekly edition.

The Marseille infectiologist could not be reached directly on Thursday. Questioned by AFP, the IHU Mediterranean infection indicated " not to comment on a procedure in progress ".