Prison in southern France shot at with Kalashnikovs, car fires also set at other prisons
At the prison in the southern French city of Toulon, shots were fired with automatic weapons on Monday night. There was also unrest at other French prisons with car fires. According to the French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin, it appears to be a matter of coordinated actions. As far as is known, no injuries were reported.

Fifteen bullets
The French newspaper Le Figaro reports that fifteen bullets from Kalashnikovs were fired at the prison in Toulon at around 00:40 on Monday night, one of which pierced the entrance door. On Monday evening and night, fires were also set at four prisons in the south of France and at two prisons in the Paris area. Parked cars belonging to prison staff were mainly set on fire. The text DDPF was written on some cars. This would stand for 'droit des prisonniers Français' (the rights of French prisoners).

'Attempts at intimidation'
Minister Darmanin speaks on X of “intimidation attempts” and says that he will go to Toulon on Tuesday afternoon to investigate and to support the officers involved. He also makes a connection with the approach to drug crime. “France is confronted with drug trafficking and is taking measures that will thoroughly disrupt criminal networks.” He does not explain why he thinks this is the reason for the violence.

April 28, 2025
Arrests after violence at French prisons
In France, 25 people have been arrested for their alleged roles in prison attacks earlier this month, in which several facilities were shot at and staff cars were set on fire. Mortar shells were also fired this week. A group is suspected of being involved in 'defending the rights of French prisons'.

France French Police Marseille
Arrests
According to French media and the French national anti-terrorist organization, the 25 people were arrested in the Paris area and in the cities of Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux. Justice Minister Darmanin thanked the police and justice department on X "for arresting the alleged perpetrators of the attacks."

In ten days, 65 incidents took place in France, in which several homes of prison staff were also reportedly attacked, NOS reports .

Prisoners' rights
The French newspaper Le Figaro writes that for fifteen days a group has been active that is committed to the 'defense of the rights of French prisoners', abbreviated as DDPF. It targets prisons and their guards. The group publishes videos and threats via the messaging service Telegram. Their abbreviation was found near the affected prisons.

Shots
Among the most serious incidents were shots fired with automatic weapons at a prison on the night of April 14-15. On the night of April 20-21, a residential area where prison staff live was heavily attacked with shots and Molotov cocktails.

Last Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, the Aix-Luynes prison and a youth detention center in Marseille were shelled with mortar shells, the French newspaper reported.

One of the guys arrested yesterday for the prison attacks is a known member of the DZ Mafia.

Not suprising many members of DZ are in detention and stll getting orders to the streets.

The fact that they are attacking the authority of the state is because they don't want the drug trafficking law," according to Gérald Darmanin, for whom this bill will lead to a "very harsh prison regime" and "high-security prisons to cut them off from the rest of society."

Here in the USA I have not seen any reporting about this. It should be a bigger news story.