Finally, on May 3 at around 1:30 a.m., the fire at the Orange 5-SFR antenna relay planted on rue Gustave-Eiffel, in the industrial zone of Douai-Dorignies, was indeed deemed criminal. After thinking that the destruction of this equipment was accidental, the investigators considered another avenue and the Douai prosecutor’s office utilised the judicial police.
Two months of work were not too much to put names on the suspects. This Tuesday, six people (five men, including a minor, and a woman) were arrested by the criminal brigade of the interregional direction of the judicial police (DIPJ) of Lille, with the support of the research and intervention brigade. Domiciled in Roubaix and Villeneuve d’Ascq, these suspects, “all close to circles advocating a form of violent protest” according to the DIPJ which announces these arrests, were placed in police custody. According to the Douai prosecutor’s office, they come from antifa circles, black blocks or even the movement of yellow vests.
Quickly, the only woman in the group was left free and will not be prosecuted. The other five were brought to justice. The four major suspects, aged 22 to 32, were brought before the prosecutor on Thursday. Two of them were remanded in the evening, the other two left free under judicial supervision.
All four were presented for immediate appearance before the Douai Criminal Court on Friday afternoon and, at their request, their trial was postponed.
The minor, originally from Pas-de-Calais, was indicted by a judge of the judicial court of Béthune for “destruction of property in an organized gang and association of criminals with a view to committing an offense”, Indicates the DIPJ, then placed under judicial control.
The destruction of this relay antenna would have caused “damage estimated between € 300,000 and € 500,000”.
[Translated by 325]
