Killing of a 72-year-old by youth shocks France On the sidelines of the NATO summit: rapprochement between Ankara and Athens

In France, a deadly attack by three youths on a 72-year-old man caused horror and sharp words in all political camps. The case shows “unrestrained violence that we must fight with determination”, said government spokesman Olivier Véran on Wednesday. The pensioner, who allegedly beat up one of the three young people last week in the northern French town of Vieux-Condé, succumbed to his injuries on Tuesday, according to the mayor of the municipality.

The young people allegedly attacked the man after he asked them to make less noise outside his house late last Wednesday evening. There would have been an “argument” for the act, but according to the current knowledge of the prosecutor’s office, there are no eyewitnesses to the attack itself. A driver would have found the man on the ground shortly after midnight.

According to the prosecutor’s office, the three alleged perpetrators are teenagers, live in a community near the crime scene and have no criminal record. They were taken into police custody the day after the crime. The 17-year-old, the alleged main perpetrator, is being investigated for negligent homicide and the other two youths are charged with, among other things, failure to provide assistance. Prosecutors said all three expressed regret.

“This drama will not go unpunished,” said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, speaking of a “cowardly attack”. Marine Le Pen, leader of the right-wing opposition Rassemblement National party, saw the attack as a sign of a “complete loss of respect for human life” and a “brutalization” of part of society. (saw/sda/afp)