French prosecutors have opened a judicial inquiry after a Paris concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was marred by protest and violence.
Four people – three men and a woman – detained following disturbances at a concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris have been brought before an investigating judge with a view to being formally charged, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Sunday.
“The suspects were referred to the investigating judge this Sunday as part of the opening of a judicial inquiry,” the public prosecutor’s office told AFP.
One person has already been charged and placed under judicial supervision, while proceedings for the remaining three are still under way, prosecutors added.
The judge has been asked to consider a long list of potential offences, including: wilful damage to property using a method dangerous to others; endangering others’ lives; possession of incendiary materials without legitimate reason and in violation of a prefectural ban; organising an unauthorised public demonstration; refusing to submit to police identification procedures; and committing violence with or threatening the use of a weapon.
The prosecution has requested that the accused be placed under judicial supervision with strict conditions – including bans on entering Paris, approaching concert venues or attending live performances.
Four arrested after protest disrupts Israel Philharmonic concert in Paris
Smoke flares and outrage at the Philharmonie
The four were arrested after Thursday night’s concert by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the Philharmonie de Paris, where several spectators with valid tickets allegedly tried to disrupt the performance.
Two smoke flares were reportedly set off inside the concert hall during the attempted protest.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez swiftly condemned the incident, declaring that “no cause can justify putting the lives of concertgoers in danger”.
The Philharmonie de Paris, which filed a legal complaint over the events, “firmly condemned the serious incidents” that took place in its Pierre Boulez concert hall.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati also weighed in, stressing that “violence has no place in a concert hall” and that “freedom of artistic programming and creation is a fundamental right of our Republic”.
France halts Gaza evacuations over antisemitic posts by Palestinian student
Clashes outside police station
The disturbances and subsequent arrests have stirred further tensions between pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian activists in the capital.
On Saturday evening, a small pro-Palestinian group gathered outside the 19th arrondissement police station where the four suspects were being held.
According to police sources, they were soon joined by a group of pro-Israeli demonstrators, and clashes broke out between the two sides. Officers intervened to separate them, with three police officers sustaining minor injuries in the process.
Three pro-Israeli activists were arrested for insulting and assaulting public officials and placed in police custody. A pro-Palestinian protester was also arrested later for making antisemitic remarks.
The incidents come amid heightened tensions in France surrounding cultural events linked to Israel, with authorities increasingly concerned about demonstrations spilling into acts of violence.
(with AFP)
