France Faces Surge in Coordinated Attacks on Prisons

France is grappling with a sharp escalation in violent attacks on its prison system, as six detention centers have come under assault this week.

The latest incident occurred early Wednesday morning in the southern town of Tarascon, where several vehicles were set ablaze near the local prison facility.

Authorities report that the attacks range from arson targeting prison vehicles to gunfire from automatic weapons directed at penitentiary buildings. The incidents appear to be part of a broader campaign of intimidation, raising serious concerns about the safety of correctional staff and facilities.

French Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has linked the wave of violence to organized drug crime networks. He views the attacks as a coordinated retaliation to France’s intensified crackdown on narcotics trafficking and criminal syndicates operating across the country.

The escalation has prompted the anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office to open an investigation, indicating the seriousness with which the government is treating the threat.

According to reports, the French Ministry of Justice is working closely with national security services to bolster protection around vulnerable prison sites.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has described the incidents as unprecedented in scale and nature, emphasizing that the attacks represent a direct assault on state institutions and public order.