France’s elite police stormed into the flat of an 85-year-old retiree in the southern city of Marseille twice over the past fortnight, in search of a dangerous suspect.

"/> France’s elite police stormed into the flat of an 85-year-old retiree in the southern city of Marseille twice over the past fortnight, in search of a dangerous suspect.

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OFFBEAT

Elite police mistake granny’s home for criminal hideout, twice

France’s elite police stormed into the flat of an 85-year-old retiree in the southern city of Marseille twice over the past fortnight, in search of a dangerous suspect.

Published: 14 November 2011 14:02 CET

The retiree, referred to as “Francesca” by the French press, was woken up by the sound of the police blowing up her front door on October 25th. 

Speaking to the French daily La Provence, she said balaclava-wearing men rushed into her bedroom at 6am and pushed her onto the bed. The policemen then tore through her flat before realising their suspect lived next door. The damage done is estimated at €2,000.

On Thursday last week, the elite police force again forced their way into her flat, this time using a battering ram to break through her front door. The police force believed the suspect had escaped and was hiding on Francesca’s balcony. 

However, the two balconies are not connected and the suspect had escaped via another balcony. He was later arrested outside the building.

The police were tracking a suspect accused of taking part in a hold-up on a jeweller’s shop near the southern city of Toulon. 

Police say he was a dangerous criminal accused of shooting on the police with Kalashnikovs.

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CRIME

French parliament to investigate sexual abuse in cinema

The French parliament on Thursday agreed to create a commission of inquiry to investigate sexual and gender-based violence in cinema and other cultural sectors after several recent allegations.

Published: 2 May 2024 12:25 CEST
French parliament to investigate sexual abuse in cinema

The Assemblée nationale unanimously agreed to set up the commission demanded by actor Judith Godreche in a speech to the upper house, the Senate, in February.

The 52-year-old actor and director has become a key figure in France’s MeToo movement since accusing directors Benoit Jacquot and Jacques Doillon of sexually assaulting her when she was a teenager. Both have denied the allegations.

All 52 lawmakers present for the vote on Thursday approved the creation of the commission, watched by Godreche, who was present in the public gallery in the chamber.

“It’s time to stop laying out the red carpet for abusers,” said Greens lawmaker Francesca Pasquini.

The new commission is to look into “the condition of minors in the various sectors of cinema, television, theatre, fashion and advertising”, as well as that of adults working in them, it said.

On the basis of Godreche’s proposal, a parliamentary commission on culture decided to extend the scope of the inquiry to also include other cultural sectors.

It is to “identify the mechanisms and failings that allow these potential abuses and violences”, “establish responsibilities” and make recommendations.

The parliament vote comes a day after actor Isild Le Besco, 41, said in an autobiography she was also raped by Jacquot during a relationship that started when she was 16, but was not ready to press charges.

Godreche, by contrast, has filed a legal complaint against the prominent arthouse director, over alleged abuse that occurred during a relationship that began when she was 14 and he was 25 years her senior.

She has also formally accused Doillon of abusing her as a 15-year-old actress in a film he directed.

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