French Deputy Mayor Oriane Filhol, who serves for Mathieu Hanotin of the Socialist Party (PS) in Saint-Denis was the victim of a severe assault as she was returning home from a work meeting at around 9:30 pm on Wednesday evening. The men who attacked her were reportedly of "North African" origin.
She is a staunch advocate of leftist political stances, and has described a proposed French immigration bill as "shameful" and "disgusting," Remix News reports.
Upon returning home, Filhol, who the outlet reports advocates for “solidarity, women’s rights, and fighting against discrimination” was “hit violently in the face and body with punches,” a police source told Le Parisien newspaper.
Filhol initially managed to get away on foot, running to a friend's house. The attackers, however, pursued her and physically attacked her further before eventually escaping the scene in a getaway vehicle.
The Le Figaro newspaper revealed that a police source described the men as having a "North African" appearance and said they were "hooded" and had hidden their faces "behind a surgical mask."
The far-left politician was booked at Saint-Denis Hospital to be treated. She has since been said to have been released and has filed a complaint with the police.
The Bobigny public prosecutor’s office has confirmed that it has launched a probe and it weighing charges for “violence resulting in a total incapacity for work of more than eight days by a person hiding their face, on a person entrusted with a public service mission.”
No arrests have yet been made in connection to the attacks.
A Saint-Denis town hall press release said regarding the assault: “The exact reasons seem to be closely linked to her commitment as an elected official.”
It added, “The commitment of the elected representatives of Saint-Denis to carry out their mandate is total. Nothing will turn back their determination. The perpetrators of this cowardly attack must be apprehended as quickly as possible and punished by the courts.”
Some French politicians came out to condemn the attack.
While Saint-Denis appeared to have a claimed motive, others are not so sure. Le Parisien reported that the attackers' motivations are unknown as did Le Figaro.
She is a staunch advocate of leftist political stances, and has described a proposed French immigration bill as "shameful" and "disgusting," Remix News reports.
Upon returning home, Filhol, who the outlet reports advocates for “solidarity, women’s rights, and fighting against discrimination” was “hit violently in the face and body with punches,” a police source told Le Parisien newspaper.
Filhol initially managed to get away on foot, running to a friend's house. The attackers, however, pursued her and physically attacked her further before eventually escaping the scene in a getaway vehicle.
The Le Figaro newspaper revealed that a police source described the men as having a "North African" appearance and said they were "hooded" and had hidden their faces "behind a surgical mask."
The far-left politician was booked at Saint-Denis Hospital to be treated. She has since been said to have been released and has filed a complaint with the police.
The Bobigny public prosecutor’s office has confirmed that it has launched a probe and it weighing charges for “violence resulting in a total incapacity for work of more than eight days by a person hiding their face, on a person entrusted with a public service mission.”
No arrests have yet been made in connection to the attacks.
A Saint-Denis town hall press release said regarding the assault: “The exact reasons seem to be closely linked to her commitment as an elected official.”
It added, “The commitment of the elected representatives of Saint-Denis to carry out their mandate is total. Nothing will turn back their determination. The perpetrators of this cowardly attack must be apprehended as quickly as possible and punished by the courts.”
Some French politicians came out to condemn the attack.
While Saint-Denis appeared to have a claimed motive, others are not so sure. Le Parisien reported that the attackers' motivations are unknown as did Le Figaro.
