The following text is entirely drawn from articles published by the media of the regime.
France3, Sunday 23rd February 2020
Fire has destroyed a building housing a research laboratory in the university area of Gières (Isère), a Grenoble suburb. Firefighters fought the flames during the night and are still in action this morning Sunday 23rd February 2020. A crisis unit was set up between 3 and 4am, as disaster struck in the 1,300-square metres building in rue de la Piscine.
«The fire is most likely to be of criminal origin because a door of the building seems to have been forced and the fire started in several points», announced Eric Vaillant, a public prosecutor from Grenoble.
The flames devastated 700 square metres of the first floor. The damage amounts to several hundred thousand euros, a great deal of research material has been destroyed but there were no casualties. According to the laboratory director «about 10 years’ work» has gone up in smoke. At the height of the intervention 43 firefighters and five firefighting hoses were mobilized.
An investigation has been opened to determine the origin of the disaster, the arson line being that favoured […].The judiciary police was co-supervised by the Sûreté départementale of Isère. Investigators have just arrived on the spot and observations are underway. A security perimeter has been set up.
«No claim has been brought to our attention yet», added Vaillant. So it is not known whether the anarchist-libertarian movement, of which some members are suspected of being the perpetrators of about a dozen arsons in the metropolis of Grenoble, is involved in this case. The prosecutor has informed the national antiterrorism prosecutors of these recent events so that they can study the case and take charge of the question «if they think it necessary».
Activity will be suspended in this laboratory specialized in civil engineering and mechanics of materials. This institute is in association with the University of Grenoble-Alpes, the National Polytechnic Institute of Grenoble (INPG) and CNRS, and «carries out cutting-edge research in the field of the mechanics of solids», as Eric Vaillant declared.
Le Daubé, same date
The laboratory affected by the fire is carrying out cutting-edge research in the field of the mechanics of solids.
The structure targeted by the incendiary attack that took place in the night between Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd February is the 3SR lab (Sols Solides Structures et Risques), a joint research unit located in rue de la Piscine, in the Grenoble campus (situated in the towns of Saint-Martin-d’Hères and Gières). It operates in two buildings: the Galilée unit, which comprises offices, and the Eiffel unit for structures dedicated to experimentation.
This laboratory carries out cutting-edge research in the field of the mechanics of solids. «This research is in the field of structural engineering, civil engineering structures and materials, transport, the manufacturing industry and health», the 3SR website reports. «In all these fields research is based on experimentation and planning, both on a material and a structural level. Experimental studies are carried out in order to understand, analyse and nourish the development of theoretical and numerical models, taking into account physical-mechanic couplings and multi-scale analysis».
«In particular, we carry out dynamic tests on rocks, soil, concrete and materials, as well as tests on micro-structures », affirms Robert Peyroux, director of the laboratory.
[Translated by Act for freedom now!]
