A gang of violent partygoers brutally beat a female French police officer on New Year’s Eve, and a viral video of the incident has enraged people across France and the rest of the world, but the suspects are still at large.
What happened?
According to AFP, police were called to a private party that was held in an industrial zone shed in the Paris suburb of Champigny-sur-Marne. According to police reports, some partygoers were turned away from the door, which led to altercations in the adjacent street.
Two police officers, who have not yet been identified by French authorities, responded to the scene. In a video captured and disseminated on social media, the partygoers formed a mob and began to punch and kick the police officers.
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Fox News reported that the officers both suffered concussions, and Agence France-Presse added that one officer also suffered a broken nose. The officers were placed on paid leave for seven and 10 days, respectively.
What is being done?
The incident caused outrage in France and across the world, but French police have still not made any arrests in connection with the incident.
Authorities in Champaigny-sur-Marne have promised a rigorous investigation into the incident and are confident that the attackers will ultimately be brought to justice since they were caught on video.
French Interior Minister Gerard Collomb echoed these sentiments.
“As there have been videos on social networks, we will work to find the attacker,” he said. “This society of violence can not continue to exist. … This heinous act … reflects a certain form of moral bankruptcy of our society[.]”
French police say they are reviewing various videos of the incident and interviewing potential witnesses to the altercation. The police have cautioned the public that the investigation will be a “long work of analysis,” according to AFP.