Intrusion at Lafarge: 200 people demonstrate in support of the 17 held in police custody

“Free our comrades,” chanted the demonstrators, gathered in particular at the call of the Earth Uprising movement.

“Times are tough for those who work in another world. We must not give up for our friends in police custody,” said Stéphane Martot, regional secretary of EELV in Normandy.

On December 10, 2023, during a national day of mobilization of environmental activists against cement manufacturers, around a hundred people entered the Lafarge industrial site (Holcim group) in Val-de-Reuil, dressed in white overalls and his face masked. According to the Evreux public prosecutor's office, they had prevented the site security agent from leaving his premises and had committed "significant damage".

The damage - expanding foam inside several devices, concrete in a water supply, a container of polystyrene balls and ripped bags of cement and even broken windows - was estimated at more than 450.000 euros.

On Monday, 17 people suspected of having been part of this group were arrested and placed in police custody as part of an investigation entrusted to the Anti-Terrorism Sub-Directorate (SDAT) of the National Directorate of the Judicial Police and to the Territorial direction of the judicial police of Rouen.

“We are sending the police services linked to terrorism for a good-natured action while Lafarge is accused of links with Daesh”, another name for the Islamic State organization, lamented during the demonstration Alexis Vernier, LFI municipal councilor of Sotteville-lès -Rouen and advisor to the Rouen metropolis.

“Lafarge is one of the most toxic companies in the world. We demand a definitive end to land artificialization,” said Sam, a demonstrator who said he was close to those arrested.

The production of cement and concrete represents 8% of global CO2 emissions, more than those of air transport and maritime transport combined, professionals admit.