Quentin Deranque, a 23‑year-old far-right activist, died on February 14 after being brutally beaten in Lyon during clashes between left- and right-wing demonstrators.
The attack took place on the sidelines of a student event at the Lyon Institute of Political Studies, where Deranque had been present with the far-right feminist nationalist collective Nemesis.
Two days later, he succumbed to severe brain injuries and a fractured skull at a local hospital.
In the wake of his death, French authorities launched a major investigation. Within days, 11 suspects were arrested in connection with the attack, several of whom were earlier linked to the far-left militant antifascist collective Jeune Garde, which had been dissolved by the French government in 2025.
Among the arrested is a parliamentary assistant to Raphaël Arnault, an LFI (La France Insoumise) lawmaker. Authorities allege the assault was “methodically prepared,” involving organised individuals, some masked, and vastly outnumbering Deranque.
The case has intensified political tensions in France, drawing sharp criticism from far-right and mainstream parties alike.
Macron condemns violence
French President Emmanuel Macron reacted to the attack by calling it “an unprecedented outburst of violence”. He emphasised that “no cause, no ideology will ever justify killing,” and appealed for restraint while the justice system identifies and prosecutes those responsible.
Macron’s remarks came as political leaders across the spectrum joined calls to avoid inflaming tensions amid national elections and debates over far-left militias’ activities.
Who was Quentin Deranque
Quentin Deranque was born in Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône in the Rhône department and was a mathematics student at Lyon II University. Close friends described him as devout, calm, and hardworking, with a passion for philosophy, ethics, and religious life, Le Monde reported.
A convert to Catholicism, Deranque was an active parishioner at Saint-Georges Church in Lyon and involved with the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Peter (FSSP), a traditionalist Catholic organisation.
At the same time, he was an active figure in France’s far-right circles. He had connections with the neo-fascist group Allobroges Bourgoin and was a former member of Action Française, participating in nationalist rallies, including the 2025 neo-fascist march organised by the 9 May Committee.
Supporters described him as a young man seeking his identity, devoted to his country, religion, and cultural heritage, while critics noted his radical political affiliations.
Although Deranque had been assisting Nemesis at the Lyon event, acquaintances emphasised that he was not acting as a formal security guard and had also been involved in community work, including volunteering at soup kitchens at the Saint-Martin shelter.
His death has sparked national debate on political violence in France and the role of extremist groups on both sides of the spectrum.
