French jails have come under attack. Are violent drug gangs to blame?

A mysterious group has accused Justice Minister Gérard Darmanin of declaring "war" on prisoners.

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That means police haven't ruled out the extremist left, or a foreign power such as Russia or Algeria.

But the conviction is growing that the attacks - 12 since Sunday night - can only have been the work of drugs gangs, hitting back at the government's latest crackdown.

That is certainly the belief of the government itself.

Speaking on Thursday morning, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau said he was "certain that what we're dealing with is the drugs-yobs [in French, narco-racaille]".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g27n775j1o

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