Terror Attack On French Prison Continues, Cars In Tarascon Burned

JAKARTA - Terror attacks on prisons in France continues. Cars were burned in prison in Tarasco, southern France on Wednesday morning.

"The cars were set on fire this morning," French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin was quoted as saying by Reuters from C News TV, Wednesday, April 18.

A number of prisons in France were attacked on Monday night allegedly in response to the government's efforts to eradicate drug trafficking.

Authorities are currently grappling with what they call a "tsunami" of cocaine entering the country.

An unidentified striker fired an automatic weapon into a prison in the southern city of Toulon, while the vehicle was burned outside other detention sites.

It is not clear whether the attack was coordinated, or who did it.

French Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, who led efforts to tighten prison security and crack down on gangsters running their business empire from behind bars, visited Toulon.

"Merbagai upaya telah dilakukan untuk mengintimidasi staf di beberapa penjara, mulai dari membakar kendaraan hingga menembak senjata otomatis," tulis Darmanin di X dilansirReuters, Selasa, 15 April.

"I will go to Toulon to support the relevant officers. The French Republic faces drug trafficking issues and takes action that will massively disrupt criminal networks," he continued.

The National Anti-terrorism Prosecutor's Office (PNAT) said it had taken over the investigation into the attack, which also targeted the National Prison Administration School.

The PNAT said officers from France's domestic intelligence agency DGSI would assist in the investigation.

French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has instructed local authorities to immediately increase protection for staff and prisons.

"The State response must be firm," he wrote on X.