The prosecutor of the Republic of Saint-Brieuc announced this Friday the opening of an investigation after the filing of a complaint by the mayor of Plougrescant (Côtes d'Armor) having found that the brakes of his vehicle had been severed. At this stage of the investigation, "the results of the first investigations have shown that four brake hoses had been deliberately severed," said in a statement the prosecutor of the Republic Nicolas Heitz.
The elected official filed a complaint against X last Tuesday, denouncing "facts committed against her and can be qualified as attempted homicide and repeated death threats," the prosecutor said in his statement. "In support of her complaint", the elected representative explained that "the day before, while she started her vehicle, she had noticed a braking defect and the lack of resistance at the brake pedal". The mechanic then found that "the hoses had been cut using pliers," according to the statement.
Ongoing investigations
The mayor, Anne-Françoise Piedallu, "also specified to have been the victim of a similar event previously, one of the front wheels of his vehicle having been loose," reports the magistrate. The elected representative also reported "tensions with some of his citizens" as well as "threatening remarks that would have been made against him indirectly, in front of employees," according to the prosecutor's office. "Investigations are currently underway to identify the author or perpetrators of these facts," says the magistrate. Plougrescant is a coastal town of about 1200 inhabitants not far from Lannion.
This sabotage comes as many elected officials, including the President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron, have expressed in recent days their indignation after the resignation of the mayor of Saint-Brevin-Les-Pins (Loire-Atlantique), Yannick Morez, under pressure from the far right. Following this resignation, the government announced Friday the launch of a center "to analyze and fight against violence against elected officials" to improve their protection.