Lost shipping containers: Onions, plastic pellets and phones wash ashore

Issued on: 13/02/2026 

02:07 min


Every year, 250 million containers travel across the oceans. But some never make it to port. Many are lost in storms, falling off cargo ships and polluting our shores. Just a few weeks ago, beaches in southern England were covered in thousands of onions and frozen French fries from cargo loads. Nearly 30 tons of plastic pellets also spilled onto Spanish beaches after six containers fell off a Norwegian ship. Our France 2 colleagues report.

BY: FRANCE 2

VIDEO BY:  Aurore Cloé DUPUIS

Syrian Kurdish fighter's selfie video leads to allegations of massacre

A video posted online on January 22 shows a Kurdish fighter posing selfie-style in front of 21 lifeless bodies following the evacuation of a prison in Kobane, Syria. While the Syrian Democratic Forces said the footage is authentic, they maintain the bodies were those of armed combatants – a claim contradicted by our Observer, who was released from the same prison.


Issued on: 11/02/2026 - 
The FRANCE 24 Observers/
Ahmed ALMASSALMAH

A man who appears to be part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) filmed this video selfie-style while standing in front of a row of lifeless bodies laid out on the ground. He’s smiling and has a rifle slung over his shoulder. © Facebook

Warning: readers may be disturbed by the content of this article.

The chilling video was posted on Facebook on January 22 by an account based in Germany which has since been shut down. The video is filmed by a man who appears to be part of the majority-Kurdish group the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), posing selfie-style in front of a row of bodies on the ground. He’s smiling broadly and has a rifle slung over his arm.

In the video, he claims that one of the fighters with the SDF – who are thought to have committed this massacre – joked that they should blow the bodies up. A second video shows bullets being fired at the bodies, though it is unclear who is shooting.

This footage documents a massacre that took place on January 22 near Kobane in northwestern Syria. A local Facebook group Radar Sarine reported that the SDF had carried out extrajudicial killings of at least 21 young men. The SDF had allegedly just released the victims from Yeddi Qawi Prison near Kobane.

Fifteen bodies recovered

The massacre documented in the video took place against a complicated backdrop. January 2026 saw significant numbers of SDF forces retreating from the Syrian cities of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa towards Kobane. On January 19, clashes broke out between these fighters and the Syrian Army near the Tishrin Dam south of Kobane.

Sometime after that, in circumstances that are still unclear, doors were opened at Yeddi Qawi, a prison located south of Kobane, resulting in the flight of many of the people who had been imprisoned there. Sometime after that, the massacre documented in the video posted online on January 22 took place.

A Facebook page dedicated to local news reported that members of the Syrian Civil Defence had recovered the bodies of 15 victims of a massacre they said took place near Kobane and handed them over to local authorities. The bodies were then transferred to Manbij National Hospital, where the families could collect them.

Mukhtar (not his real name) says he was incarcerated in the prison in the village of Yeddi Qawi. He shared with us a copy of the documents he received upon leaving the prison which were issued by the Kurdish Autonomous Administration, confirming that he was imprisoned in Yeddi Qawi.

This is a photo of the document issued by the Kurdish autonomous administration to someone leaving prison. We masked the name of the formerly incarcerated person. The document reads, “To whom it may concern. He was released from the Kobane prison.” It is affixed with the seal of the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, Kobane reform centre. This photo was given to us by our Observer. © Mukhtar


According to Mukhtar, the massacre and the events leading up to it took place between January 19 and 22, 2026.

He describes the prison where he was being held as overcrowded, with hundreds of men being held. He says a majority of the prisoners there were Arab, with a small Kurdish minority.


"They were speaking to us about a general amnesty. But only the Kurdish detainees were being released. About a hundred of them. Meanwhile, they were telling us Arabs, ‘Your turn will come.’ Many believed it.”

The situation became increasingly tense and, on January 21, prisoners started burning sheets, mattresses and beds. There was smoke everywhere.


"We were choking. People were screaming. At one point, the SDF opened the doors. Not to let us out but to keep everyone inside from dying. I would say that between 300 and 400 prisoners, including me, left the prison and headed into the nearby fields. From there, we separated and dispersed. Some of us headed in the direction of Sarrin, and others – maybe about 30 people – headed towards Kobane."

These two screenshots were taken from two videos filmed on January 21. The image on the left shows people leaving the prison, while the image on the right shows people alongside the road. The videos were posted on Facebook on January 22, 2026. © Facebook

‘They fell right in front of me’

Mukhtar says that when the fleeing prisoners had made it about 1.5km from the prison, they were intercepted by several vehicles carrying SDF fighters. Mukhtar then went on to describe extrajudicial killings that occurred before those documented in the video.

"They begin by firing shots in the air. People were running in every direction. Then, they started shooting at us. I saw men fall in front of me. They were carrying nothing – no weapons, not even cell phones.

They fell right in front of me. Four or five people died immediately, while others were injured. Everyone was panicking. I managed to hide in a field, but was later stopped at an SDF roadblock. They tied my hands and made all of us survivors lie face down on the asphalt. Some of the soldiers wanted to execute us then and there."

Mukhtar says that some of the female SDF soldiers intervened on their behalf and dissuaded the men from executing his group. He and his group were taken back to Yaddi Mawa prison. Others seem to have been sent elsewhere.

‘It was revenge and ethnic discrimination’


"I was finally released again on the evening of January 22, 2026. After we were released, I headed towards Ain al-Arab [also known as Kobane] while another group of about 27 people went towards the Sarrin region.

Members of the Autonomous Administration [Editor’s note: the civilian branch of the SDF] had them get into vehicles. They were going to drive them to the last point under Kurdish control before reaching territory under the control of the Syrian regime.

Most of those in the group of 27 people were killed. I was at a checkpoint at the south entrance to Kobane when I heard the news. I saw some of the injured people arrive. I recognised some of the people in the video.

These murders weren’t to prevent people from escaping. It was revenge and ethnic discrimination. The soldiers were insulting the victims and saying to the prisoners, 'In any case, you’ll die.'

I survived along with four other people. We made it to a service station alongside the road, and the owner let us in and gave us shelter. Three days later, he brought us to an area outside of Kurdish control."

Mukhtar thinks that between 40 and 45 people were executed on January 22.

“The number is much higher than the 21 bodies that you can see in the video because there were other executions elsewhere,” he explained.

The yellow indicates the area that was still under the control of the Syrian Democratic Forces on January 22, 2026, the date when the video was filmed. The massacre took place in this area. © FMM graphics studio


The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said that the images were authentic, though they claimed that the bodies were those of armed fighters killed during clashes. Our Observer’s account casts doubt on this claim, as do the videos themselves. The bodies are lined up neatly, and there are no weapons to be seen. They are also all wearing civilian clothing.

Adnan Al-Hussein, a journalist based in the region, says that the videos provide evidence.

"Everything in the video indicates that the area has been secured. If there had been fighting, we would see the remnants. Here, you see men who have been gathered here, restrained and killed.”

‘I am telling my story for those who died’

Mukhtar says that speaking out comes with risks.


"I hesitated. But if I remain silent, then they die a second time. I am not asking for international justice. I’m asking for the truth to be spoken. I am telling my story for those who died.”

People in Manbij are still working to identify the bodies. However, the number of casualties remains unknown.

Tributes to two young men thought to have been killed in the massacre were published on the Radar Sarin Facebook page. One man, Ismail Al-Hassani, known as Abu Halab, was from the village of Al-Qubba. The second, Abbas Muhammad Al-Hussein, was from the village of Al-Abdkliya in Sarin district. Our Observer also spoke of the death of these two men.

This Facebook post features a photo of Ismail Al-Hassani alive alongside a screengrab of the video believed to show his body. © Facebook

This Facebook post features a photo of Mohammed Al-Hussein alive alongside a screengrab taken from the video believed to show his body.

This article has been translated from the original in French by Brenna Daldorph.

'All records broken' as Storm Nils leaves swaths of southwest France under water

France's flood alert agency has been working round the clock over the past month amid relentless rain and a series of winter storms, the agency's chief said Saturday, as large swaths of the southwest remained under water following the passage of Storm Nils.


Issued on: 14/02/2026 
Share
By: FRANCE 24
Video by: Gabrielle Nadler

This aerial photograph shows the overflowing Garonne river inundating a residential area in Tonneins, southwest France, on February 13, 2026. © Christophe Archambault, AFP
01:02

The flood alert system in France has been working at a record pace as relentless rain over the past month has saturated soils, the head of the agency told AFP on Saturday.

"For 30 days we have been in continuous orange or red alert somewhere on the national territory," Lucie Chadourne-Facon, director of Vigicrues, told AFP, referring to the two highest alert levels.

"That is 81 departments in alert simultaneously for 154 rivers, so we have exceeded all our records," she said.

WATCH Floods and high winds hit France as Storm Nils sweeps in

Chadourne-Facon said soil moisture had also reached a record since data collection began in 1959.

"We are facing a generalised flood situation across the entire country because all the soils are saturated everywhere" and have "lost their infiltration capacity", she said.

"As a result, today rivers are extremely sensitive to the slightest precipitation, the slightest rainfall that hits the country, and they react very quickly," she added.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Meet the Winter Olympics mascots: cute, cuddly and under threat from climate change

Tina and Milo, the mascots for the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics, are anthropomorphic stoats. Native to the Italian Alps, the habitat of these small mammals is increasingly affected by climate change – however, a group of researchers from the University of Turin have had a funding bid for a project to study and protect the animals turned down by the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation.


Issued on: 15/02/2026 - RFI

Tina (left) and Milo, the mascots of the Milano Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Games take the stage in Cortina d'Ampezzo before the last torch relay of the Olympic flame in the city, 26 January. 

AFP - ODD ANDERSEN

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A white stoat sniffs the wind and frolics with its brown companion amid a blizzard, in animated scenes introducing Tina and Milo, the mascots for the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.

But this charming spectacle in the Italian Alps is becoming increasingly unrealistic, due to irregular snow cover from year to year – according to biologist Marco Granata.

"Around November, the stoat's brown fur turns white for camouflage," he explained to RFI.

"The problem is that with climate change, snowfall is becoming increasingly rare and irregular. More and more often, the stoat is white in a world that is no longer white, making it an easy target for predators."

According to Granata, the stoat population's winter survival rate is currently estimated at 10 percent.

Moving to higher ground

Granata – a doctoral student at the University of Turin – is testing innovative methods to study small mustelids such as the stoat, ermine, weasel and polecat in the Alps, as part of his Ermlin Project research programme.

At the headquarters of the Maritime Alps Natural Park in Entracque, northwestern Italy, he has set up a camera trap – which automatically films when triggered by movement – to monitor the small animals in their natural habitat.

Biologist Marco Granata watches video footage of a stoat from a camera trap, at the Maritime Alps Natural Park in Entracque, Italy, on 22 December, 2025. 

AFP - MARCO BERTORELLO

While artificial snow may be suitable for skiers, this is not the case for stoats – so they are moving to higher altitudes in search of snow cover.

"The problem with moving up is that the stoat won't find enough food," said Granata.

"It eats almost exclusively, and exclusively in winter, rodents." The stoat's prey doesn't benefit from venturing to higher ground, because it has learned to live at lower altitudes.

Shrub studies show Alps suffering disastrous decline in snow cover

Elsewhere in Europe, some stoats remain brown all year round. But Granata believes it unlikely that in Italy, the stoat will stop shedding its coat in winter. Molting is a genetic trait, he explains.

He said that if stoats that do not molt, or only partially molt, are favoured by external factors, then the species could gradually adapt to a higher survival rate.

However, at this stage he says he is unaware of any non-molting species in the Italian Alps, and it is therefore difficult to hypothesise that this development will happen any time soon.

Preserving the planet's glaciers is a 'matter of survival' says UN

Lack of data

In 2015, the International Union for Conservation of Nature listed the stoat, once prized for its fur, as a species of "low concern".

Granata contests this classification, which he says is based primarily on a lack of data.

"According to our models, since the stoat is expected to lose nearly 40 percent of its suitable habitat by 2100, it should be classified as a vulnerable species."

Researchers from the University of Turin asked the Milano-Cortina 2026 Foundation, which funds projects tied to the Games, for funding to study and protect this elusive animal – but their bid was unsuccessful.

It seems that while Milo and Tina take centre stage at the Games, their real-life counterparts will not be receiving the same attention for now.

This article was adapted from the original version in French by Pauline Gleize.

African skiers at Winter Olympics call for more inclusion and support

Issued on: 16/02/2026 

14:44 min

In tonight's edition: The 39th African Union summit came to an end on Sunday, after two days dominated by the crises affecting the continent. Also, student action continues in Senegal, following the deadly protest against unpaid financial aid last week. Plus the African continent sees increasing representation with each edition of the Winter Olympics.

BY:

Clémence WALLER

Antonia Cimini

Tom CANETTI

Caitlin KELLY

Laurent BERSTECHER

VIDEO BY:

Antonia Cimini

Clémence WALLER

2026 Winter Olympics: Ukrainian athletes targeted by disinformation

Issued on: 16/02/2026 

04:54 min

In recent weeks, Ukrainian athletes and visitors at this year's Winter Olympics have been targeted by a string of false accusations. These fake news reports and the way they have been spread bear all the hallmarks of the Russian disinformation campaign known as Operation Matryoshka. FRANCE 24's Charlotte Hughes explains in Truth or Fake.

BY:  Charlotte HUGHES

Ukraine makes fastest battlefield gain in 2.5 years

Ukraine recaptured 201 square kilometres of territory from Russia in five days last week – its biggest gain in 2.5 years – according to AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War. Experts from the institute said Ukraine likely took advantage of a recent shutdown of Russian forces’ access to Starlink.

Issued on: 16/02/2026
By: FRANCE 24

A Ukrainian serviceman stands next to the antenna of the Starlink satellite-based broadband system in Bakhmut on February 9, 2023. © Yasuyoshi Chiba, AFP

Ukraine recaptured 201 square kilometres (78 square miles) from Russia between Wednesday and Sunday last week, taking advantage of a Starlink shutdown for Russian forces, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The recaptured area is almost equivalent to the Russian gains for the entire month of December and is the most land retaken by Kyiv's forces in such a short period since a June 2023 counter-offensive.

"These Ukrainian counterattacks are likely leveraging the recent block on Russian forces' access to Starlink, which Russian milbloggers (military bloggers) have claimed is causing communications and command and control issues on the battlefield," the ISW, which collaborates with the Critical Threats Project, another US think-tank, stated.

On February 5, military observers noted disruption of the Starlink antennas used by Moscow on the front lines, following announcements by Elon Musk of "measures" to end the Kremlin's use of this technology.

Kyiv claimed that Russian drones were using them, in particular, to circumvent electronic jamming systems and strike their targets with precision.

Without the use of Starlink, Russian forces only advanced on February 9, with Kyiv gaining ground on the other days.

The recaptured land is concentrated mainly around 80 kilometres east of the city of Zaporizhzhia, in an area where Russian troops have made significant progress since the summer of 2025.

Moscow controlled 19.5 percent of Ukrainian territory, either fully or partially, in mid-February, compared with 18.6 percent a year earlier.

Approximately 7 percent – Crimea and part of the Donbas – was already under Russian control before the invasion launched in February 2022.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Europe bashing: EU's top diplomat rejects US talk of 'civilisational erasure'


EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pushed back against what she described as "European bashing" in a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. Kallas welcomed the message of unity delivered by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the annual gathering but dismissed the Trump administration's talk of Europe's "civilisational erasure".


Issued on 16/02/2026 -

By: FRANCE 24

\

Photo mashup of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the G7 in Canada on November 12, 2025, and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas at the Munich Security Conference on February 15, 2026. © Mandel Ngan, AP / Michael Probst, AP

EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas pushed back on Sunday against Europe "bashing" by the United States.

"Contrary to what some may say, 'woke, decadent Europe' is not facing civilisational erasure," Kallas said on the last day of the Munich Security Conference.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday reassured allies by saying Washington and Europe "belong together" – but insisted the continent must defend against mass immigration to protect its "civilisation".

"The message that we heard is that America and Europe are intertwined, have been in the past and will be in the future. I think this is important," Kallas said.

But she added: "It is also clear that we don't see eye to eye on all the issues, and this will remain the case."

Officials in the Trump era have repeatedly extended their own heightened fears of immigration to Europe, often borrowing language from "replacement theory", the brainchild of a French novelist that has become a rallying cry for the global far right.

In a National Security Strategy document published on December 5, the US administration warned against European "migration policies that are transforming the continent and creating strife". "Should present trends continue, the continent will be unrecognizable in 20 years or less," the document predicted.

Europeans "were shocked to read that they were engaged in 'civilisational erasure'," French daily Le Monde wrote at the time.

The US document went on to warn that "censorship of free speech and suppression of political opposition" was taking place in Europe – despite European nations occupying all top 15 spots on the 2025 global Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders while the US fell to a historic low at 57th place.

READ MORE How France's ‘great replacement’ theory conquered the global far right

Russia is 'broken'

Kallas went on to say that Russia must be forced to make concessions in talks to end the Ukraine war.

"Let's be clear-eyed about Russia. Russia is no superpower," she said, saying the country was "broken".

"The greatest threat Russia presents right now is that it gains more at the negotiation table than it has achieved on the battlefield."

The annual security gathering in Munich has seen European officials insist the continent must take the lead on its defense in the face of an aggressive Russia and doubts over the reliability of the United States as President Donald Trump upends ties.

"There is an urgent need to reclaim European agency," Kallas said.

She said European defense "starts in Ukraine" and will depend on how the war ends. The top diplomat called for the size of Russia's military to be capped while adding that Moscow must pay for the damage it has caused and must be held accountable for war crimes.

France's Minister for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad said there was no time to wait in increasing European independence, saying it should pay less attention to what US officials say and focus on bolstering its capabilities.

"I think the worst lesson we could draw from this weekend is to say, well, I can cling to some love words that I heard in part of his speech and push the snooze button," Haddad said of Rubio's address.

Instead, he said Europeans should "focus on what we can control, focus on our rearmament, on the support for Ukraine and the threat that Russia poses to all of our democracies".

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

The Munich hangover: Security fest or defence insecurities exposed?

Issued on: 16/02/2026 - 

Play (42:45 min)

In the wake of the Munich Security Conference, we're asking: what happens now? With Russia's war on Ukraine still raging, do the grand words of Munich mean anything to those struggling to feed themselves, stay warm and survive under Vladimir Putin's ongoing missile and drone attacks

On European security, tensions are rising. Germany is pressing France to increase its defence spending, with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul essentially telling Emmanuel Macron to put his money where his mouth is. But with France facing a massive public debt crisis, finding the 5 percent of GDP required for NATO commitments is far from simple.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is visiting Budapest, delivering a message of support from President Donald Trump to his ally Viktor Orbán – Europe's most outspoken admirer of Putin. Rubio's words at Munich suggested conciliation, but standing side by side with Orbán raises questions: is the gap between the US and the EU widening, just when unity is needed most for Ukraine?

Produced by Charles Wente, Aline Bottin, Guillaume Gougeon and Ilayda Habip

OUR GUESTS

Hélène CONWAY-MOURETFrench senator, Socialist Party

James J. Townsend JrFormer US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Ondrej DITRYCHSenior Analyst for Russia and Eastern Neighbourhood, EUISS
Grégoire ROOSDirector of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Programmes, Chatham House

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Mark OWENFollow

Charles WENTE

Aline BOTTIN

Guillaume GOUGEON

Ilayda HABIP

VIDEO BY:

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BEING ANTI-ZIONIST & PRO-PALESTINIAN IS NOT ANTISEMITISM

Macron hardens attack on 'far-left' LFI, says antisemitic rhetoric must be tackled

Emmanuel Macron stepped up his criticism of France Unbowed (LFI), linking the leftist party’s stance to broader concerns about antisemitism in public life.


Issued on: 15/02/2026 - RFI

Protesters pictured waving France Unbowed flags at a demonstration at Place Bellecour in Lyon, central-eastern France on 10 January 2026. AFP - OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE

French President Emmanuel Macron has described France Unbowed (LFI) as a far-left movement in which “antisemitic expressions” are emerging and “must be combated”, in an interview with Radio J – a Paris-based radio station aimed at France’s Jewish community – that has reignited tensions with the opposition party.

“I think it’s no secret that they are on the far left,” Macron said in the interview, recorded on Friday and published on Sunday. The classification mirrors a recent decision by the interior ministry – one strongly disputed by LFI.

“I note that in the positions they take, particularly on antisemitism, they contravene the fundamental principles of the Republic,” the head of state added.

Macron said that “clearly antisemitic expressions are emerging” and should be tackled “wherever they come from”. He also pointed to similar concerns on the opposite end of the political spectrum, noting that some parliamentarians within the far-right National Rally (RN) “use expressions and defend ideas” that run counter to republican values.


The interview comes amid heightened political tensions following the death of a 23-year-old man linked to the far right, who was fatally beaten this week on the sidelines of a protest against an appearance by LFI MEP Rima Hassan in Lyon.

Macron condemned what he described as an “unprecedented outburst of violence” and called for “calm, restraint and respect”, as the incident fuelled fresh clashes between far-right and hard-left groups ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

Push for tougher sanctions

The president’s remarks come amid a broader push to address antisemitism in France. On Friday, during a tribute to Ilan Halimi – a young Jewish man kidnapped and tortured to death in 2006 – Macron warned of an “antisemitic hydra” insinuating itself “into every crack” of society.

He reiterated on Radio J that the government would introduce legislation imposing a mandatory ban on holding office for elected representatives found guilty of antisemitic, racist or discriminatory acts or remarks. Macron said he was confident the measure could be adopted by parliament and enter into force before 2027.

Asked about LFI MEP Rima Hassan, who has been the subject of a complaint by Le Parisien daily following a post on X targeting one of its journalists, Macron pointed to existing legal tools. “Criminal circulars have been issued by the justice minister to combat all forms of antisemitism and all antisemitic remarks,” he said. “They will be enforced.”

On the role of the media, Macron declined to single out Qatar-based broadcaster Al Jazeera, saying he did not wish to “stigmatise”. However, he warned that some content – whether online or broadcast – can, “under the guise of covering international news, fuel and exacerbate hatred of Jews and create divisions in our society”.

LFI rejects “extremist” label

On Sunday, LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard hit back, arguing that “it is not up to the President of the Republic to classify his political opponents”.

Speaking on the LCI news channel, Bompard accused Macron of borrowing from Donald Trump’s playbook: “If you disagree with him, you’re an extremist.” He also rejected allegations of antisemitism, stressing that “no [France Unbowed] activist has ever been convicted of antisemitism”.

Macron also used the interview to defend the importance of institutional checks and balances, responding to recent comments by conservative politician Bruno Retailleau on the “excesses of the rule of law”. While acknowledging that rules may at times need to evolve, he cautioned that the rule of law “guarantees us the possibility of living freely and together”.

He added that France’s challenges should not be addressed by undermining constitutional foundations or suggesting they are the source of the country’s problems.

Retailleau responded swiftly, saying the president “is wrong” and that “France needs a break with the past”. In a message on X, the leader of Les Républicains portrayed Macron as “an advocate of an immobile France” who “has failed to reform the country and would like nothing to change after 2027”.

(With newswires)

Arrests in French far-right activist murder case follow misinformation about suspects’ identities

Copyright AP Photo

By Estelle Nilsson-Julien & Noa Schumann

Published on 17/02/2026 -  EURONEWS

A flood of conflicting narratives and misinformation about alleged suspects tied to the killing of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque in Lyon has spread online, preceding a series of arrests made on Tuesday evening.

Across social media, far-right activists and politicians have spread the names of multiple individuals they claim were involved in the killing of Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old far-right activist who was fatally beaten by a group of youths in the city of Lyon on 12 February and died two days later.

According to French prosecutors cited by French media, four men in their twenties were detained on Tuesday evening. Among them is Jacques-Élie Favrot, the parliamentary assistant to far-left France Unbowed MP Raphaël Arnault.

Arnault is also the co-founder of the Jeune Garde, an anti-fascist organisation dissolved by the government in June 2025.

The news follows a flood of conflicting narratives and misinformation about the suspects' identities, which came before the arrests, accompanied by a stream of false images of Deranque.

What led to Deranque's death?

The events leading to his death occurred on the sidelines of a conference held by far-left MEP Rima Hassan held at the Institute of Political Studies (more commonly known as Sciences Po).

According to a testimony from the far-right feminist collective Némésis, Deranque and "around 15 other men" were present to offer them security assistance for a protest they staged outside the conference.

In their statement, Némésis stated that these men were unable to carry out their security duties because they were being chased by a mob of "anti-fascist activists".

According to the Lyon Public Prosecutor's Office, later that evening, Deranque and two other individuals "were thrown to the ground and beaten repeatedly by at least six individuals".

"Two managed to escape, while Quentin Deranque remained on the ground," the prosecutor's office said.

Even though Némésis claims that Deranque was aiding their security, his family lawyer said on 13 February that he was "neither a security guard nor a member of any stewarding or security service" and that he had "no criminal record".

Screenshot of video footage which appears to show the fight which Quentin Deranque was involved in TF1

Left-wing activists targeted despite lack of evidence

The names, addresses and photographs of a number of alleged suspects have been shared online — even though their names are not among those suspects officially announced to the public — in turn exposing them and their families to online harassment.

In a series of social media posts, Blandine Bardinet was identified as one of the alleged suspects, namely by far-right activists, such as Damien Rieu in a now-deleted X post.

Rieu shared multiple, unrelated images of the young woman alongside video footage of the killing of Deranque, in an apparent bid to highlight the fact that she was wearing the same coat as one of the young man's attackers.

Damien Rieu, far-right activist's now deleted X post X

Ndong Eurydice, a local politician for the far-right Reconquête political party, also spread Bardinet's name and surname, alleging she had been "formally identified", even though this is not the case as of the time of writing.

Bardinet's lawyer, Raphaël Kempf, told Euronews's fact-checking team, The Cube, that they would take legal action against the individuals who spread false claims about Bardinet.

"Complaints will be filed against individuals who continue to relay these lies, and they will have to explain themselves in court," he said in an emailed statement. "For several days now, various far-right influencers have been acting like police investigators and prosecutors, treating their followers like a jury and naming names, inciting waves of hatred and threats."

"In their quest for revenge, they wrongly identified Blandine Bardinet as having been present in Lyon on the evening of Thursday, February 12, at the scene of Quentin D.'s death," he said. "They did not hesitate to embellish their theory with a false analysis of a screenshot."

Kempf shut down allegations that his client could have participated in the killing of Deranque, asserting that she had "left France to travel abroad the day before, Wednesday, February 11, for a planned stay of several months."

"It is therefore clear that she does not appear in the photo and that she was wrongly identified by Damien Rieu, Mila Orriols, Jean-Eudes Gannat, Eurydice Ndong, and the UNI, among others," he added.

Relate

According to social media posts, Bardinet has been involved in the anti-fascist Jeune Garde movement.

"Blandine Bardinet was an activist with the Jeune Garde, driven by her anti-fascist convictions and the need to fight against the far right and the spread of its ideas and practices," Kempf said. "Since June 12, 2025, she has complied with the decree dissolving the Jeune Garde."

In a press statement released on Sunday, the Jeune Garde denied its responsibility for what it described as "tragic events" which took place in Lyon, stating that it had "suspended all its activities" following the dissolution.

In an interview with French public broadcaster France 2 the same day, France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez pointed to the possible responsibility of the Jeune Garde in Deranque's killing.

"The investigation will confirm whether or not they were Jeune Garde activists," he said. "But the evidence clearly points in that direction."

The Lyon Public Prosecutor's office did not respond to our questions regarding the formal identification of the suspects, following separate reports from French media who, citing police sources, stated that investigators had "formally" identified five suspects, amplifying speculation surrounding the names shared online before Tuesday's arrests.

During a press conference held on Monday, the prosecutor's office confirmed that Deranque had been attacked "by at least six individuals."

Fake photos of Quentin Deranque spread online

Elsewhere on social media, several photos claiming to show Deranque have been circulating on social media since the incident.

In reality, the only authentic photo of him was released by his family was published in the French newspaper Le Figaro.

One image, which has been widely shared and supposedly shows Deranque, actually depicts Dylan Guichaoua, a local representative for the youth branch of the far-right National Rally party in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department of France.

Guiachaou's image also appeared on French flags displayed at a tribute rally held in Paris on Sunday.

Compilation of misleading social media posts related to Quentin Deranque Euronews

Responding to the viral posts, Guichaoua published a statement on Facebook, denouncing the misuse of his identity, stating he had "no connection to the events mentioned, and even less to the attack and the death of Quentin".

Other alleged images of Deranque bearing the caption "his name was Quentin" actually use the photograph of Quentin Piron, a 23-year-old Belgian who died in a road accident in 2024.

Artificial intelligence has also been used to generate images of Deranque, which have in turn been picked up by far-right accounts, with captions such as, "The far left kills. Support for Quentin".

In total, The Cube identified at least six false images of Quentin circulating online.

Four suspects arrested in killing of French far-right activist in Lyon

Copyright Zaibur / Wikimedia Commons

By Euronews with AFP

Published on 17/02/2026 - 

The incident has fuelled tensions between the far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March and the presidential election next year.

Investigators have arrested four suspects over the death of a French far-right activist in Lyon, the southeastern city's public prosecutor has said.

23-year-old Quentin Deranque died from a severe brain injury after being attacked by at least six people last week on the sidelines of a far-right protest against MEP Rima Hassan, who was speaking at an event at Sciences Po Lyon university.

A source following the case told news agency AFP that one of those detained is an assistant of a member of parliament from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party.

The incident has intensified tension between France's far right and hard left as they prepare for municipal elections in March.

Nemesis, an anti-immigration group that describes itself as a protector of western women against violence, stated that Deranque was at the demonstration acting as security for its members.

Nemesis has blamed La Jeune Garde (The Young Guard) for the killing, an anti-fascist youth group co-founded in 2018 in Lyon by hard-left activist Raphaël Arnault before he was elected to parliament.

On its part, the government has blamed LFI for fuelling the violence that led to Deranque's death.

"It is manifestly the ultra-left who killed him," French justice minister Gérald Darmanin said.

A video, purportedly of the attack, shows a dozen people hitting three others lying on the ground, two of whom manage to escape.

On Tuesday afternoon, the French National Assembly observed a minute of silence for Quentin Deranque, with a commemorative march scheduled next Saturday in Lyon.

Political blame game continues

While government officials have blamed LFI and La Jeune Garde, the Lyon prosecutor declined to address those claims on Monday, confirming only that the case is being handled as voluntary homicide and aggravated assault.

La Jeune Garde, which was dissolved in June, denied any links to the "tragic events".

Three-time presidential candidate and likely 2027 contender, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, dismissed claims that his party, the LFI, was at fault.

LFI lawmaker and La Jeune Garde co-founder, Raphaël Arnault, has said he was horrified by the killing.

Meanwhile, three-time presidential candidate with the far-right National Rally Marine Le Pen condemned the "barbarians responsible for this lynching".

With President Emmanuel Macron constitutionally barred from seeking a third term in 2027, the far-right National Rally currently leads the race to succeed him, according to recent opinion polls.

French government blames hard left for 'climate of violence' after killing of far-right activist

France's government on Monday said politicians on the hard left had "encouraged a climate of violence" that made them partially responsible for the death of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque, a far-right activist who was attacked on the sidelines of a protest in Lyon last week.


Issued on: 16/02/2026 -

By: FRANCE 24
Video by: FRANCE 24




France's government accused the hard left Monday of being partly responsible for the killing of a far-right activist last week.

Quentin Deranque, 23, died of his wounds after being attacked Thursday on the sidelines of a far-right protest against a left-wing politician speaking at a university in the city of Lyon.

The Lyon prosecutor on Monday said the authorities have opened a murder investigation Deranque's death after he was attacked by "at least six" people on the sidelines of a protest.

Prosecutor Thierry Dran said the incident is being investigated as an "intentional homicide" and "aggravated assault". No arrests have been made so far, he added.


The incident has fuelled tension between France's far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race.

The government blamed rhetoric from the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party for fuelling the violence that led to his death.

The far right blamed the killing on la Jeune Garde (Young Guard), an anti-fascist youth group co-founded by an LFI lawmaker before he was elected to parliament.

The group – which was dissolved in June – denied any links to the "tragic events".

READ MOREFrance's Macron urges restraint after right-wing youth fatally beaten

Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon accused the LFI Monday of having "encouraged a climate of violence for years".

"There is therefore – in light of the political climate and the climate of violence – a moral responsibility on the part of LFI" for the attack on Thursday, she told television broadcaster BFMTV.

Raphael Glucksmann, a centre left member of European parliament, also lambasted the hard left party.

"It's unthinkable that, on the left, we would continue to harbour the slightest doubt about a possible electoral alliance with LFI," he told the RTL broadcaster.

The left, including LFI, allied against the far right after President Emmanuel Macron took a gamble by calling for snap parliamentary elections in 2024.

But Macron lost even more of his majority, and the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) became the biggest party in the lower house.
'Pitched battle'

According to a source close to the probe into the Lyon killing, there was "a pitched battle between members of the far left and the far right".

A video broadcast by TF1 television of the alleged attack shows a dozen people hitting three others lying on the ground, two of whom manage to escape.

A witness said "people were hitting each other with iron bars".

LFI's veteran leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, a three-time presidential candidate widely expected to run again next year, has denied his party were to blame.

On the far right, Marine Le Pen, who is still hoping to stand in 2027 despite a graft conviction, condemned the "barbarians responsible for this lynching".

READ MOREParis appeals court sets verdict in far-right leader Le Pen’s graft case for July 7

Opinion polls put the far right in the lead for the presidency in 2027, when Macron will have to step down after the maximum two consecutive terms in office.

Le Pen has said she will decide whether to run after an appeal court ruling in July, when she could hand over to her lieutenant Jordan Bardella.

A poll of 1,000 people published on Sunday placed Bardella as the preferred candidate in the 2027 vote, ahead of Le Pen in second place.

Centrist ex-prime minister Edouard Philippe, a candidate, and Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin were in joint third place.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

Killing of far-right activist triggers turmoil across French political spectrum

The fatal beating of a 23-year-old far-right sympathiser in Lyon has sparked a blame game between France's left and right political circles, while an investigation is underway to uncover the sequence of events leading up to the young man's death.


Issued on: 16/02/2026 - RFI

The killing of 23-year-old far-right sympathiser Quentin Deranque has become a political lightning rod in France © Sylvain THOMAS / AFP

Alara Koknar


Quentin, a 23-year-old mathematics student linked to the far-right collective Némésis, died after being severely beaten during clashes in the city of Lyon on Thursday evening.

Némésis is known for high-profile actions opposing immigration and feminism, and for staging protests targeting left-wing political figures.

According to the group, Quentin had been "helping provide security" for its members as they demonstrated near the university Sciences Po Lyon, where Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament from the hard-left party France Unbowed, was holding a conference.

Clashes between rival political groups

Police sources say an initial confrontation between far-right and far-left supporters escalated into a violent clash roughly 500 metres from the university. Both groups consisted of about twenty individuals. A video acquired by French television channel TF1 shows several individuals beating a man on the ground.

On social media, Némésis has refered to the incident as a “lynching” of its activists, but prosecutors say they are still working to determine the precise sequence of events.

Quentin was later treated by firefighters for a serious head injury. He was hospitalised in critical condition and later declared brain dead on Friday before passing away on Saturday.

Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran told reporters at a press conference on Monday afternoon that a criminal investigation into voluntary homicide is being conducted by the Lyon police department.

Quentin’s family lawyer has described the attack as a “premeditated ambush”, a claim not yet substantiated by investigators.

'Pray for Quentin': the killing of a 23-year-old far-right sympathiser in the French city of Lyon has triggered protests © ALAIN JOCARD / AFP

Ministers and party leaders trade accusations

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said Sunday that “the far-left had clearly killed” the student.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez also suggested that early evidence pointed to involvement of "far-left activists", mentioning possible links to the Jeune Garde, an anti-fascist group dissolved for its violence in 2025. His claim has yet to be confirmed.

On the right, Marion Maréchal, a far-right member of the European Parliament and niece of Marine Le Pen, accused France Unbowed's of responsibility.

Former interior minister Bruno Retailleau echoed similar claims, expressing that “it is not the police who kill in France, but the far-left”.

French prosecutors stick to demand for five-year ban for Le Pen

Meanwhile, France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon expressed “shock, empathy and compassion” for the family at a rally in Montpellier, while rejecting what he considered “slander”.

“We have nothing to do with this story,” he said, insisting his movement opposes political violence.