Sainte-Soline : Comment Le Militant Antibassine Serge D. A Été Gravement Blessé | Enquête

On March 25, 2023, the peaceful demonstration against a mega reservoir project in Sainte-Soline, in the Deux-Sèvres region, took a turn for the worse. Thousands of protestors gathered, armed with Molotov cocktails and grenades, resulting in a tense confrontation with the authorities. Sadly, one activist, Serge Duteuil-Graziani, was seriously injured, and his prognosis remains uncertain as of the publication of this video on April 6. The evidence gathered from numerous hours of video footage and eyewitness testimonies shed light on the events of that day, pointing to the use of illegal tear gas grenades as a probable cause for Duteuil-Graziani's injuries.

A Forbidden Gathering and Intensifying Clashes

The demonstrations, although forbidden by the prefecture, attracted a massive response. To prevent the activists from entering the reservoir site, a substantial contingent of gendarmes was deployed. As the first demonstrators arrived in the vicinity of the reservoir, tear gas grenades were launched to keep them at bay. In a retaliatory act, some protestors responded with fireworks. Soon enough, a front line formed around the reservoir, and the clashes grew increasingly intense.

Stones, Molotov Cocktails, and More

The weapons employed on both sides escalated the damage inflicted during the confrontations. Demonstrators armed themselves with stones and Molotov cocktails, while the gendarmes brought stun grenades, disencryption grenades, and LBDs (flashball launchers). Disturbingly, certain images captured non-regulatory use of LBDs and Cougar grenade launchers by the authorities. One such video, shot by journalist Camille Courcy, shows a demonstrator being hit in the head by an MP7 tear gas grenade. The trajectory of the grenade indicates that it was fired with enough force and at the right angle to disperse its capsules in the air, rendering them smaller and lighter, and therefore less dangerous. However, in this particular incident, the grenade appeared to approach the demonstrator at a lower angle, suggesting that it had no time to open before impact.

Uncovering the Truth: Serge Duteuil-Graziani's Story

At around 1:30 pm, multiple images captured Duteuil-Graziani in close proximity to the clashes. Dressed in a white construction helmet, gloves, and a gas mask, he stood out amidst the chaos. To understand how Duteuil-Graziani sustained his injuries, we need to fast forward a few minutes to 1:49 pm. In a series of photos taken at that time, Duteuil-Graziani can be seen wounded a few meters behind the clashes. By examining drone images, we can determine the approximate moment the photo was taken, and through careful analysis, we can decipher what unfolded in those critical seconds.

Before Duteuil-Graziani collapsed, a GM2L tear gas and sound grenade exploded a few meters behind him. He appears to turn his head towards the explosion, the left side of his gas mask visible. Simultaneously, another projectile strikes his helmet, causing it to fly off and ricochet to the right. Shortly after, tear gas escapes from the group, and a demonstrator hurls a capsule of tear gas towards the gendarmes. It is highly probable that the projectile that hit Duteuil-Graziani was a tear gas grenade.

Discovering the Source

The trajectory of the GM2L grenade that exploded seconds before the incident indicates that it was likely fired in a bell-shaped fashion, arriving on top of the resulting cloud. However, the grenade that hit Duteuil-Graziani emerged from the bottom of the cloud, around the level of a tree. Numerous gendarmes equipped with grenade launchers and an armored vehicle, also outfitted with a grenade launcher, were positioned behind the smoke. Earlier images captured them firing grenades in the direction of Duteuil-Graziani's group. Considering the height and trajectory of the grenades, it appears they were not launched in a bell-shaped pattern but rather at an insufficient angle, making them dangerous.

Quickly after being wounded, Duteuil-Graziani was assisted by fellow demonstrators and volunteer rescuers. Despite immediate calls to emergency services, it took over an hour for the ambulance to arrive, according to the prefect of Deux-Sèvres. Subsequently, Duteuil-Graziani was hospitalized with severe head trauma and a broken vertebra. As of now, he remains in a coma, ten days after the incident.

In conclusion, the Sainte-Soline confrontation serves as a stark reminder of the potential dangers when demonstrations escalate into violence. The use of illegal tear gas grenades and the inadequate firing angles of projectiles highlight the need for greater caution and restraint in crowd control situations. It is essential that authorities prioritize the safety and well-being of all citizens, striking a balance between maintaining order and respecting the fundamental rights of protestors.