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Fabio Grosso: Lyon manager ‘seriously injured’ as team bus attacked in Marseille

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Lyon has cautioned about the possibility of a more severe disaster following an assault on their team bus in Marseille, where manager Fabio Grosso and assistant Raffaele Longo were reportedly injured by projectiles. The incident occurred before the scheduled Ligue 1 match between Marseille and Lyon.

In response to the situation, Lyon expressed their concern, emphasizing that such incidents have been recurring in Marseille annually. They urged the authorities to address the seriousness and frequency of such attacks before a more catastrophic event takes place.

Initially intending to proceed with the match, Lyon reconsidered following news of Grosso and Longo’s injuries and the impact on the players’ mental state. Lyon president John Textor expressed his frustration, highlighting the dangerous objects, including beer bottles, that caused Grosso’s injuries.

Marseille, while deploring the unacceptable incidents, denounced the violence and emphasized that it has no place in football or society. They wished for a swift recovery for Grosso and hoped for a prompt resolution to the situation, acknowledging the disappointment of the fans who were unable to attend the match.

The game was ultimately postponed, prompting widespread condemnation from various quarters, including the French sports minister and FIFA president, who both stressed the need to eradicate such acts of violence in football. French football expert Julien Laurens also expressed dismay, labeling the incident as a detrimental portrayal of French football.

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France shooting: Calmer night despite protests over Nahel M’s murder, minister says

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The death of a teenager shot by police at close range in France has sparked protests and unrest in various cities. However, the Interior Minister has reported a quieter night of protests with fewer arrests compared to previous nights.

The most intense clashes occurred in the southern city of Marseille. In a Paris suburb, attackers targeted the mayor’s house, injuring his wife as she attempted to flee with their children. The funeral for the teenager, Nahel M, was held with large crowds in attendance. The Interior Minister commended law enforcement for their actions, which contributed to a relatively calmer night. Around 45,000 police officers were deployed across the country for a second consecutive night.

The hope is that the security crackdown and the public’s disapproval of the violence will lead to a turning point and a decline in rioting. However, it is yet to be confirmed if this trend will continue. Clashes between police and rioters were reported in Marseille, with tear gas being used by the police. In Paris, a significant police presence deterred protesters from gathering on the Champs-Élysées.

The mayor of L’Haÿ-les-Roses denounced the attack on his home as a “murder attempt of unspeakable cowardice.” In other cities such as Lille, Lyon, Nice, and Strasbourg, clashes and vehicle fires were reported. The incident involving Nahel has reignited discussions about French policing, including a controversial firearms law from 2017 that allows officers to shoot at drivers who refuse to stop.

The issue of racism within the police force has also been raised, with the UN’s human rights office urging France to address this concern. President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the violence and criticized the exploitation of Nahel’s death to justify acts of violence.

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Two bodies found after Marseille building destroyed in explosion

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In Marseille, a city in southern France, a four-story apartment building was completely destroyed by an explosion. Two bodies have since been discovered. Six individuals, according to local police, are still missing and rescue operations are ongoing.

The explosion happened in the La Plaine neighbourhood on Sunday around 00:49 local time (23:49 BST on Saturday). Investigators are investigating into the likelihood of a gas leak even if the source is yet unknown.

Almost 200 people had to be evacuated from their houses after the explosion caused minor injuries to five persons from nearby structures. A few hours later, two adjacent buildings partially fell without any further injuries.

Benoit Payan, the mayor of Marseille, issued a warning on Monday that surrounding structures were at danger of collapse.

A fire that had been smouldering beneath the debris all day Sunday was put out by about 100 firefighters who arrived on the scene.

Despite the fact that authorities reported on Sunday evening that the fire was showing signs of dying down, the fire slowed down rescue efforts and made it challenging for search and rescue teams to use sniffer dogs.

The building is thought to have had one flat on each floor, and city officials had stated that a “young couple” was among the missing.

With the use of a crane and lighting, rescue efforts proceeded into the early hours of Monday.

In a brief statement announcing the discovery of the bodies, the fire department said that “given the difficulties of intervention, the extraction [of the bodies from the site] will take time”.

A local gymnasium and two schools have been opened to accommodate the people who have had to leave their homes. Psychological support is also being offered.

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter that he was “thinking of those affected and their loved ones” and thanked the emergency workers for their efforts.

Mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan said rescuers remained “determined” to find people alive. “Hope must hold us,” he said.

With the collapse of two old houses in the working-class neighbourhood of Noailles, which left eight people dead, Marseille’s housing regulations came under fire in 2018.

After that tragedy, charities calculated that 40,000 city residents were residing in subparly constructed homes, but on Sunday, officials seemed to rule out structural problems as the root of the most recent collapse.

Local authority chief in the Bouches-du-Rhone region Christophe Mirmand claimed there was no risk notice on the structure and that it was not located in an area known for having subpar housing. Mr. Payan reaffirmed the remarks.

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