French Authorities Prosecute Far-Left Activist for Attempted Murder Amid Riots

A far-left activist arrested in connection with an arson attack that destroyed Limoges City Hall during recent riots in France now faces prosecution for attempted murder of a police officer. Hodei Ciarra Docampo, 34, is accused of setting fire to the historic building, a structure dating back to 1883, which suffered a collapsed roof and belfry in the blaze.

Limoges Public Prosecutor Émilie Abrantes announced that Docampo is being prosecuted for the "attempted murder of a person holding public authority." His detention has been extended by 48 hours as investigators analyze evidence, including drone footage and interviews with 13 municipal police officers present at the scene. Prosecutors believe the town hall's destruction was targeted by extremists and not the work of a single individual.

Docampo was arrested Tuesday by the elite RAID counter-terrorism unit at his parents' home. Prosecutors have linked him to the ultra-Left extremist group Les Soulèvements de la Terre (The Rise of the Earth) and noted he was on a terror watchlist. He was previously convicted of assaulting a police officer two years prior during a protest at a wood pellet factory.

A second man, aged 66, has also been arrested in connection with the Limoges arson on charges of 'organised destruction of property by means dangerous to persons.' His political affiliations are currently unknown.

The mayor of Limoges, Guillaume Guérin, described Docampo as the alleged 'mastermind' of the attack, stating that the extent of the damage could not have been caused by simple means. He suggested the group used fireworks, mortars, and battering rams.

The suspect's father, Fernando Ciarra, a 70-year-old Basque separatist, was sentenced last April to three years in prison for arson attacks in Limoges, including torching vehicles and damaging broadcast and mobile phone towers.

The destruction of the town hall occurred during a night of widespread looting and vandalism across France, which began on October 17. The unrest followed mass demonstrations against the rising cost of living. President Emmanuel Macron stated that the violence was "led by organised ultra-left groups aiming to bring down the republic."

In response to the widespread unrest, French authorities have imposed bans and restrictions on protests in several cities, including Paris, Lyon, Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre, and Toulon. The government has acknowledged that police lost control during the initial clashes. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin reported that out of 2,500 arrests made since the weekend's events, 174 individuals have been detained and over 900 are facing prosecution.

Political figures have commented on the situation, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticizing Macron's government for being too lenient, while far-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon blamed the unrest on the authorities' "non-stop brutal repression."