A blue-white-red tape crossed out with the words “National Police” still covers the area.
It is on this square of greenery of the parking lot of the Sénarts swimming pool, in Boussy-Saint-Antoine (Essonne), that Toumani, a 14-year-old teenager, collapsed this Tuesday afternoon.
Hit in the chest by a stab, he could not be revived when help arrived, between the pétanque and football fields.
Another 13-year-old was injured by a stab wound to the neck.
The latter's vital prognosis is no longer engaged.
Shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday, about sixty young people from two rival gangs and dressed in black clashed with sticks, iron bars and crutches.
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The two groups, from the Cité du Vieillet in Quincy-sous-Sénart and the Filmmakers in Epinay-sous-Sénart, have a rivalry that has lasted for several decades.
In recent weeks, the two camps have been provoking each other on social networks, for no particular reason.
They therefore arranged to meet in front of the swimming pool.
A place located equidistant from the two districts, where they are used to do battle.
According to the prosecutor of Evry-Courcouronnes, Caroline Nisand, "it was planned that the older ones let the youngest 13-14 years old fight under their supervision".
What happened, the big ones being located "in withdrawal".
Shortly after the incident, six minors were arrested, spotted by traces of blood on their clothes.
The alleged stabbing perpetrator "panicked"
All are 17 years old and from Quincy-sous-Sénart, like the two victims.
Four of them are unknown to justice and two others were arrested for carrying a weapon in 2019. “One of them was hospitalized for a broken nose and a head trauma,” adds the prosecutor.
A seventh, aged 15 and from Epinay, surrendered on his own in the evening.
He is also known for carrying a weapon.
"He declared to have been in contact with the little ones, to have found himself surrounded and to have carried the two stab wounds to the victims", specifies the prosecutor of Evry.
According to our information, he claims to have "panicked" when he saw the two minors approaching him.
An investigation was opened for "murder of a minor under 15 years old" and "attempted murder of a minor under 15 years of age in assembly and with a weapon".
It was entrusted to the departmental security of Essonne.
The mayor wants to defuse conflicts from the age of 8
On this sunny Wednesday afternoon, the surroundings of the swimming pool have regained their calm, but the CRS trucks are turning, watching over these neighborhoods ready to erupt.
"Sixty gendarmes and 30 police officers are mobilized in the three cities at least until the start of the school year", indicates Eric Jalon, the prefect of Essonne, joined this Wednesday afternoon.
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“Since I was a kid, I have known this rivalry between these two districts,” laments Romain Colas, 41, mayor (DVG) of Boussy-Saint-Antoine.
He grew up in the city before moving to Quincy, then doing part of his schooling in Epinay.
“This culture of violent confrontation is based on nothing,” he recalls.
It's if you
live in the Vieillet, your enemy lives in the Filmmakers
.
And
if at 18 you didn't break your enemy's mouth, you missed your life.
"
So, to break this tragic passing of the torch, the mayor proposes "that the kids from the recreation centers in our three municipalities do activities together".
"If at 8 and 9, they bond, they will not want to hit each other at 12 or 13", bet the elected.
The mayor (PS) of Epinay-sous-Sénart, Damien Allouch, is a “high school friend” of Romain Colas.
Both are inspired by existing systems to fight against this phenomenon which plagues the Essonne.
“But first, you have to deal with the amazement and sadness of the inhabitants,” says Damien Allouch.
We try to listen to them, to reassure them about safety.
Especially since lately, it was rather calm between the two districts… ”
An alert loop to prevent violence
The Frères-Moreau vocational school, planted between the two areas, is regularly the scene of clashes.
Young people from both camps are educated there.
"It hurts both sides, it's a little one who died anyway, laments an inhabitant of the Filmmakers.
Either way, they don't even know why they are fighting.
"
A frequent lack of motive which leaves the authorities distraught.
"To fight against this phenomenon, we must deploy a war machine," said a senior officer who worked on the issue.
The key is to spot weak signals with lots of players: firefighters, elected officials, national and municipal police, residents, mediators ... So that with each regrouping or alert, we are aware and we try to prevent the brawl .
"
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Brawl between gangs: soon more "security brigades" in front of secondary schools in Ile-de-France
This device is gradually proving its worth in Corbeil-Essonnes, where nearly "15 brawls" have been avoided, especially between the districts of Tarterêts and Montconseil, indicates a police source.
In the Val d'Yerres sector, too, “the exchanges of information between these parties make it possible from the first signs of tension to direct a human presence in front of schools and bus stops, the prefect, Eric Jalon is satisfied. .
This device has already been activated about fifteen times.
"
The latter recognizes that awareness among the youngest is more necessary than ever.
“When they bring these rivalries to college, it's already too late.
The pupils must learn from elementary school that the young person from the other neighborhood is not an enemy.
"