Le Figaro Nice
Baseball bats, hammers, knives, shotguns, Kalashnikovs, pistols. This is the inventory drawn up by the police after the various scenes of tension and violence which broke out in recent days in the famously sensitive Moulins district, in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes). Last Friday, Monday evening and Tuesday afternoon, groups of around twenty hooded individuals clashed. Images relayed on social networks confirm several gunshots and orchestrated beatings. Two people were seriously injured, as well as a police officer lightly injured in the leg after a mortar shot.
A plethora of more or less similar facts have already been recorded in this district located in the west of the Riviera capital and sadly known for its drug trafficking, with a major point of sale nicknamed “the laundromat”. But in recent months, tensions seemed to have calmed at Les Moulins. Before this rather unexpected upsurge in violence this week.
According to several residents contacted and met by
Le Figaro
, they reflect
“a fed-up which has increased to a crescendo”
around a lasting presence of foreigners in an irregular situation (ESI). And for many, these actions are understandable, legitimate and accepted. Individuals with varied profiles (fathers, workers, but also many young people) would have descended on the main square of Amaryllis to do battle with these “scumbags” as they call them. Somehow take justice into your own hands. This collective presents itself as
“a private police force”
which was formed to carry out
“cleaning”
. She is also nicknamed
“the militia”
.
"Revolt"
A video produced using artificial intelligence was posted online to explain the situation to residents, while asking them to stay at home at the start of the week.
“These riots are the revolt of residents against migrants who have been violent, aggressive and disrespectful towards our community
,” explains a robotic voice. Who continues:
“we have warned the public authorities that sooner or later, it is the residents who will take back the reins of the neighborhood”
, while denouncing
“lax justice”
.
“Everyone understood that the mess came from them
,” confides a distraught resident for whom
“freedom no longer exists”
in Les Moulins because of this presence of illegal immigrants. There are about a hundred of them wandering around the neighborhood. One of the protagonists and leader of the rebellion agreed to testify to Le
Figaro
. He was present during the clashes. From the outset, he understands
“that people could have been shocked by this violence”
.
“But opposite, you have migrants force-fed substances with Kalashks in their hands
,” he explains.
We couldn't do anything, and yes, we were ready to take bullets, ready not to return home alive for the good of the neighborhood.
Opposite, you have migrants force-fed substances with kalachs in their hands. We couldn't get away with it.
One of the leaders of “the militia”.
Almost daily street harassment would have gradually increased anger. These ESI would live in squats, in the lobbies of buildings, police sources and residents tell us. When she returned from vacation in February, a resident said she found her apartment broken into and ransacked. It had been occupied for a week and the lock had been changed. Last week, the sexual assault of a neighborhood nurse would have been
“the straw that broke the camel’s back
,” says another tenant resignedly. At this stage, no complaint has been filed in this regard.
“Double context”
The police, in particular those from “CRS 81” who came as reinforcements, were able to make around twenty arrests. Among them were minors, one of whom claimed to be only 12 years old. According to the Nice prosecutor, Damien Martinelli,
“the exact motivations linked to these episodes of violence cannot be established with certainty”
. Investigations for “manslaughter” have been opened. The prosecution points to a
“double context”
, namely
“rivalries for control of drug sales points”
but also
“tensions between residents of the city and outsiders, minors or young adults in an irregular situation for the most part”
.
“The origin of the tensions is multiple”
, also conceives the prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes Hugues Moutouh. In 2023, 72% of arrests in this neighborhood for delinquency concerned foreigners and three-quarters of them were in an irregular situation. 40% of them turned out to be unaccompanied minors. The translation of a new configuration in this district. For almost two years now, and not unrelated to the migration crisis and the massive arrivals in Italy, these foreigners have become the hands of drug trafficking in Moulins. They were initially paid less (60 euros per day), but their presence gradually became institutionalized. They were thus paid more (around a hundred euros) at the same time as the main “deal” point grew. It must be said that “the laundry” can generate up to 20,000 euros per day.
The profiles of their employers remain unclear. Some people talk about the Chechen network. However, a regular rotation took place when some stayed and wanted to take a larger share of the pie. And this despite a reinforced police presence, lightning operations which have multiplied, and figures which testify to a real desire to
“kick the anthill”
according to the prefect (938 arrests, 31 kilos of drugs seized) .
Evictions expected
These latest episodes of violence have caused political reactions to multiply.
“Nice is taking the dangerous path of a Marseille-style scenario
,” denounced the Nice deputy and president of the Republicans Éric Ciotti, when his parliamentary colleague Christelle d'Intorni
“refuses that Nice is transformed into a favela
. ”
For Mayor Christian Estrosi,
“there is no point in barking”
and
“only sustained action counts”
. But at the same time, his first deputy for Security, Anthony Borré, once again demanded the presence of the army at Les Moulins.
In his role, the prefect Hugues Moutouh tempers and refuses to speak of Marseille-style drift. However, he admits to talking about a
“notable increase in foreign delinquency”
and has also revealed figures to support his statement.
“Expulsion has become an essential tool of our security policy, and the Moulins district is the archetype
,” he observes. Since the start of the year, 93 people have been dismissed. The residents met are unanimous and expect others.
Eviction has become an essential tool of our security policy, and the Moulins district is the archetype.
Hugues Moutouh, prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes.
The State representative also underlines his desire to tackle smuggler networks, which for him explains the continued presence of illegal foreigners in this city of Nice. In the case of the Riviera, many are taking the route to Italy, despite 44,000 interceptions last year. At the start of the year, the flow has decreased considerably, he tells us.
In Les Moulins,
“this is not the wild west
,” said the prefect passing through the neighborhood after the scenes of violence, which he strongly denounces. Despite the presence of “blue” on the ground, the fear of reprisals still exists. Friday afternoon, calm seemed to have returned around the Place des Amaryllis.
“A relative calm”
, according to some.