Le Figaro Marseille
Are “XXL net square” type operations starting to put Marseille drug traffickers at their wits’ end? More than two weeks after its launch in Bouches-du-Rhône, the system seems to strongly irritate the dealers in the Marseille city, forced to circumvent police action or at least temporarily suspend their illegal activities.
Those from the Félix Pyat city, located in the 3rd arrondissement of the city, seem to be particularly disturbed by these incessant comings and goings of the police, to the point of organizing dangerous reprisals. During the night from Wednesday to Thursday, several of them could be at the origin of a real
“raid”
targeting police vehicles parked near the police station located right next to the city.
According to a police source, four vehicles belonging to the specialized field brigade (BST) were the target of arson caused by eight individuals
“dressed in dark clothes”
and
“wearing surgical masks”
. Around 2 a.m., the suspects set fire to a first screen-printed car using a jerrycan, the flames then spreading towards a second vehicle in the colors of the national police. A third car was also doused with gasoline, but did not catch fire.
BST agents have completely cleaned up the city in recent days (...) This is driving the dealers crazy, who have to start from scratch
Rudy Manna, national spokesperson for the Alliance Police union
The masked individuals then quickly fled, leaving behind two
“incendiary devices”
, probably Molotov cocktails, and a lighter. The fire was quickly brought under control without causing any injuries, as confirmed by Marseille firefighters. An investigation was opened for
“intentional arson of administrative vehicles”
and entrusted to the Bouches-du-Rhône police force.
This
“descent”
visibly prepared and carried out by determined individuals could be the consequence of the repeated operations carried out in the Félix Pyat city since the start of “XXL net square”. The day before, BST police officers had arrested two individuals suspected of belonging to a drug trafficking network established in the neighborhood.
“BST agents have completely cleaned the city in recent days. They erased tags and removed barricades. This drives the dealers crazy, who have to start from scratch
,” underlines Rudy Manna, national spokesperson for the Alliance Police union, to Le
Figaro.