BREAKING:
The French police arrest 9 far-left extremists suspected of killing the 23-year-old mathematics student Quentin Deranque in Lyon.
Several of the suspects are linked to an Antifa group founded by the far-left Member of the French Parliament RaphaĆ«l Arnault, who is a member of Jean-Luc Melenchonās La France Insoumise Party (LFI).
One of the nine men arrested is Arnaultās parliamentary assistant Jacques-Eli Favrot, who was photographed at the scene when Quentin was killed.
The far-left extremists were at the site to attack members of the nationalist womenās rights organization
@Coll_Nemesis.
The nationalist women were planning to unfurl a banner in front of a university where Rima Hassan, a far-left Member of the European Parliament from the same LFI party that Arnault and Favrot represent, was giving a speech.
The prosecutor is now investigating the 9 men for mansluaghter, aggravated assault, and forming a criminal association.
The far-left extremists are said to have repeatedly kicked Quentin in the head when he was already unconscious on the ground, causing fatal injuries to.
When he was attacked, Deranque trying protecting the nationalist women protesting in front of the university.
Several of the far-left attackers are members of Antifa group 'Jeune Garde,' which was banned by the Ministry of the Interior last year following repeated acts of violence and incitements to violence.
A government spokesperson, Maud Bregeon, yesterday criticized the far-left LFI party, stating that the party bears a 'moral responsibility for a climate of increasing violence.'
Education Minister Philippe Baptiste simultaneously announced that he wants to ban public gatherings at universities out of fear of new unrest.
'Speech aimed at inciting young people, driving them out onto the streets to provoke violent clashes ā that can no longer be allowed in educational institutions today, as the risk of unrest is obvious,' the minister stated.
The French Parliament also decided to hold a minute of silence for Quentin Deranque. The decision was made by Speaker Yaƫl Braun-Pivet without any objections, reports Le Parisien.
Strong criticism is also directed at the LFIās Member of Parliament RaphaĆ«l Arnault for his proximity to violent far-left environments. Over the weekend, he stated that he received the news of the death with 'horror and disgust.'
Quentin Deranque studied mathematics and had begun further studies in computer science. At the same time, he worked for the railway company SNCF. Friends describe him as diligent, religious, peaceful and as a recent convert to Catholicism.
'Quentin became a Catholic for identitarian reasons. Patriotism and love of God were united in him,' said a friend.
On the day of his death, he is said to have been warned against participating in the protest. But according to reports, he firmly replied that he had no intention of leaving the young women to face the danger from far-left extremists all one their own.