A 16-year-old teenager, suspected of having set fire to four police cars in front of the Firminy (Loire) police station last week, within 48 hours, was indicted on Tuesday, according to the prosecution.
This inhabitant of Saint-Étienne was placed under judicial control.
CCTV images made it possible to identify clothes worn by the respondent, on which traces of oil were detected.
Four police vehicles were set on fire on December 12 and 14.
The teenager is suspected of having acted in retaliation: the day before the first fire, he allegedly fled, throwing narcotics, at the sight of a police check carried out in the neighboring town of La Ricamarie.
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A second 16-year-old Stéphanois, also placed in police custody since Monday, was presented to the prosecution under the status of assisted witness.
"Both dispute any involvement in the facts with which they are accused", indicates the public prosecutor in Saint-Étienne, David Charmatz.
A 17-year-old girl who fled from Haute-Loire, arrested at the same time as them on Monday, was released at the end of the day after being exonerated.
The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, is expected Thursday in the Loire to support the officials of the police station, according to the mayor of Saint-Étienne, Gaël Perdriau.
