The young man was attacked by several masked individuals.
In Lyon, two more men have been taken into custody in connection with the fatal attack on 23-year-old far-right activist Canten Derank. Previously, 11 people had been detained as part of the investigation. According to investigators, all individuals suspected of direct involvement in the attack are currently arrested.
According to sources from AFP, the two suspects, aged 22 and 26, were arrested in the Lyon area and in the department of Ain. A source familiar with the investigation stated that the authorities consider all those detained to have been directly involved in the attack on Canten Derank.
Earlier, at a conference at Sciences Po in Lyon, the 23-year-old activist was attacked by several masked individuals. The event was set to feature a speech by MEP Rima Hassan from the left-wing party LFI. Canten Derank's role was to ensure the safety of participants from the feminist group "Némésis," which is linked to the nationalist movement. As a result of the attack, Canten Derank sustained a severe head injury and died two days later.
In total, eleven people have been arrested in several departments in connection with this case. Of these, seven are suspected of direct involvement in the violence, while four are accused of aiding and abetting evasion of justice.
Of the seven suspects in violent actions, six have been charged with "intentional homicide," and one with "complicity." Six individuals are in custody, while one has been placed under judicial control.
According to the same source, seven men aged between 20 and 26 are known as members or associates of the "Jeune Garde" movement — an extreme left organization founded in 2018 in Lyon by LFI deputy Raphaël Arnaud and disbanded in June. Two of those detained were staff members of the deputy.
The death of Canten Derank has sparked widespread public and political debate. Mass demonstrations took place in Lyon and Paris.
Earlier, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated on France 2 that, according to initial data, ultra-left activists were involved in the attack. He added that the investigation should determine whether activists from the "Jeune Garde" were among the attackers; however, according to him, all evidence points in that direction.
