A 23-year-old Frenchman has died following a severe beating by Antifa terrorists during a violent confrontation in Lyon on the evening of February 12, according to local reports and social media messages. The incident occurred near Sciences Po Lyon in the city’s 7th district, where an ultra-left-wing conference was being held by Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) representing La France Insoumise (France Unbowed).
Members of the female-led anti-mass migration activist group Collectif Némésis had gathered outside the venue to protest Hassan’s appearance. Tensions reportedly escalated between them and counter-protesters described as far-left militants, leading to a street brawl.
Emergency services were called to the scene as multiple individuals sustained injuries during the clashes. According to initial accounts, a young woman affiliated with Collectif Némésis was pushed to the ground and assaulted.
During the confrontation, a young man identified locally as “Quentin” was reportedly acting as security for Collectif Némésis. He suffered serious head trauma after being beaten and was transported to the hospital in critical condition, where doctors placed him in an induced coma due to severe brain injuries.
Marion Marechal, MEP and niece of French populist leader Marine Le Pen, commented on the incident: “Judicial impunity and media complacency towards the radical left have led to this tragedy. [La France Insoumise] also has blood on its hands when we know its links with these violent groups and its permanent calls for chaos and hatred.”
On February 13, social media messages reported that Quentin had died from his injuries. Authorities have not yet issued a detailed public statement confirming the circumstances of his death.
Lyon’s mayor described the event as an “extremely violent brawl” and called for calm while an investigation is underway. Law enforcement officials have opened an inquiry into the incident, including potential charges related to aggravated assault and public disorder. No arrests have been publicly announced so far.
The incident comes just months after President Donald J. Trump declared several European Antifa groups as foreign terrorist organizations, following his designation of Antifa in the United States as terrorists.
European Antifa groups are known for their violent tactics. Earlier this month, an Antifa militant was sentenced to eight years in prison for participating in severe beatings in Budapest, Hungary, in 2023, where hammers were used on individuals perceived as right-wing. Separately, Antifa terrorists have sabotaged critical energy infrastructure in Germany, leaving 45,000 people without power during winter.
