Authorities in Port-de-Bouc, southern France, suspended the head of the municipal police after a service vehicle drove at speed toward a group of high-school students. The incident was filmed, and the city has opened disciplinary proceedings.
The incident took place on October 2 outside Jean-Moulin high school, where students were demonstrating as part of a wider student movement. Footage published by a witness shows a police vehicle making a fast turn toward three students. They run to avoid it. Marsactu reported that the municipal police station chief was driving.
Mayor Laurent Belsola signed the suspension decision on the evening of October 7. The officer was summoned the next day for a preliminary meeting ahead of a disciplinary hearing scheduled for October 9. The municipality described the incident as “deeply shocking.”
City officials said a disciplinary suspension could be considered. The mayor’s chief of staff told Marsactu that the vehicle’s intervention was disproportionate, although the officer was on duty alone. He said the officer had been sent to the area after rubbish bins were set on fire the previous day near another local school, lycée Charles-Montgrand.
Marsactu said it contacted the officer for comment. He replied that he was not authorised to speak and referred the outlet to his superiors.