On February 12, 23‑year-old mathematics student Quentin Deranc died in the center of Lyon due to severe injuries sustained during a violent attack. According to the investigation, five or six people participated in the attack; footage from the scene shows one of the attackers delivering the final blow. Deranc, who was protecting women from the Collectif Némésis organization, was beaten by a group of attackers and later died — this incident caused a deep shock in society and the reaction of President Emmanuel Macron, who called for calm and restraint.
The investigation indicates that among the suspects there are persons who previously appeared in the “S” dossier, as well as alleged links to the dispersed Jeune Garde movement associated with Antifa. Collectif Némésis claims the involvement of Jeune Garde activists and has initiated a petition demanding that Antifa be recognized as a terrorist organization. As a result of the testimony, the access of one of the parliamentary assistants, Jacques‑Elie Favreau, was temporarily restricted by the leadership of the National Assembly.
The tragedy led to an acute political controversy: the warring parties accused each other, there were calls for an investigation into possible links between parties and movements, and some public figures described the incident as an omen of a serious social escalation. The official investigation is ongoing, and the authorities urge to remain calm while justice establishes all the circumstances of the case.
