Three Youths Indicted in Fatal Arson Near Lyon
Lyon, May 25 – Three young individuals, aged 16, 17, and 18, were indicted on Monday as part of the investigation into the criminal fire in an apartment building in the Lyon suburbs that killed three people on May 11. This was confirmed by the Lyon prosecutor’s office.
Charges Filed by Investigating Judge
The investigating judge has charged them with “damage to real estate by a dangerous means for people resulting in the death of three people” and “injuries of less than eight days to at least 11 victims,” as well as “criminal association with a view to committing a crime,” Thierry Dran stated in a press release. The magistrate did not provide further details on the exact role of the three accused in the fire. An investigation had been opened for “voluntary homicide by an organized gang,” with the justice system considering the hypothesis of a settling of scores linked to drug trafficking as a “serious lead.”
Detention Requested for Suspects
The prosecutor’s office has requested the provisional detention of the three suspects. They were arrested in the Lyon metropolitan area and taken into police custody on Thursday. A young adult arrested at the same time as them was “released without any charges being brought against him,” the magistrate added on Monday.
Details of the Fatal Incident
On Monday, May 11, several fires broke out in a seven-story residential building in the working-class Prainet district of Décines-Charpieu, in the eastern suburbs of Lyon. The fire resulted in three deaths: a 28-year-old man and his 61-year-old aunt were found in a top-floor apartment. Another victim, also a 28-year-old man, was found at the foot of the building after jumping from a window to escape the flames.
Victims Unkown to Justice System
The three victims were unknown to the justice system, the prosecutor’s office had emphasized, adding that their entourage was “a priori” also not known. Several criminal fires have been reported since the end of April in the same street, and gunshots have also been recorded nearby.
Crackdown on Drug Trafficking
On Tuesday, a thousand police and gendarmes carried out more than 200 judicial operations and targeted controls throughout the Rhône department, to send a “strong signal” against drug trafficking, Prefect Etienne Guyot had indicated. This operation led to the arrest of 122 people and the seizure of 107 kg of drugs and 9 weapons, according to the prefecture.
Source: https://fr.news.yahoo.com/incendie-criminel-pr%C3%A8s-lyon-trois-161140931.html
