France launches anti-terrorist investigation after series of violent attacks on prisons | DW News

Key Concepts:

• Anti-terrorist investigation into prison attacks
• French Prisoners Rights (DDPF) group
• Drug trafficking within prisons
• New measures to combat drug trafficking
• Supermax prison proposal
• Prison conditions in France
• Government response to attacks

1. Prison Attacks and Investigation:

• Since last Sunday, a series of violent attacks have targeted prisons in France.
• Attacks include torched cars in prison car parks and bullet holes discovered in a prison door (15 bullet holes).
• The anti-terrorist agency has launched an investigation into these attacks.
• A group calling itself French Prisoners Rights (DDPF) has claimed responsibility via Telegram, stating they are defending human rights in prison.

2. DDPF and Motives:

• DDPF is a newly emerged group, previously unknown to authorities.
• They communicated through Telegram groups, which have since been closed with Telegram's assistance.
• The prevailing belief among authorities (Ministry of the Interior and Ministry of Justice) is that the attacks are orchestrated by drug traffickers.
• The attacks are seen as a response to recently announced measures aimed at combating drug trafficking within prisons.

3. Drug Trafficking in Prisons:

• Drug dealers and traffickers have been running networks from within prisons.
• They acquire telephones through various means, including corruption of some guards.
• Drones are used to deliver food and other items, circumventing prison administration.
• The use of drugs in France has increased, with visible drug addiction in cities like Paris.

4. Government Response and New Measures:

• The French government has been cracking down on drug gangs for years.
• A new law is going through parliament, and there are plans for a "supermax" prison to house major drug lords.
• The government's response to the attacks has been notably quiet, indicating a potential planned action.
• The Home Secretary and Justice Secretary are aligned in their approach.

5. Prison Conditions in France:

• French prisons are often old, overcrowded, and have poor hygiene.
• Cells designed for two people may house up to six.
• Inmates may have limited access to showers, sometimes only once a week.
• There is a debate about building more prisons, with opposition from the left and concerns from cities about hosting prisons.

6. Human Rights and Prison Visits:

• Drug traffickers exploit prison visits from relatives, family, and even lawyers to receive money, telephones, and spread orders.
• Restrictions on visits, aimed at curbing trafficking, are met with objections based on human rights arguments.
• The penitentiary commission needs to decide how to balance human rights with the need to prevent trafficking.

7. Key Arguments and Perspectives:

• The attacks are not primarily about prisoners' human rights but about drug dealers protecting their operations.
• The government's crackdown on drug gangs may be showing signs of effectiveness, as evidenced by the pushback.
• The new detectors for communication devices are particularly annoying to drug traffickers, as they disrupt their ability to give orders.

8. Notable Quotes:

• "It's basically is the gangs telling the police 'We can get you.'"
• "...the reign of drug dealers and drug traffickers on an art scale who are in prison may end."

9. Synthesis/Conclusion:

The recent attacks on French prisons are believed to be a coordinated response by drug traffickers to new measures aimed at disrupting their operations within the prison system. While the attackers claim to be defending human rights, authorities view the incidents as a power play by drug gangs seeking to maintain their control and communication networks. The French government's quiet but determined response suggests a planned action to address the issue, balancing the need for security with concerns about prison conditions and human rights.