A gesture of distress. A 59-year-old woman, victim of squatters, attempted to set herself on fire on Wednesday afternoon in the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville in Paris.
Around 2 p.m., the police and firefighters had suddenly closed the forecourt. Fortunately, tragedy was narrowly avoided.
Contacted by CNEWS, the victim’s brother and sister-in-law told us that the apartment inherited from their mother in 2018 has become a poisoned gift.
Several procedures launched since 2019
Because, for twelve years, sub-tenants – a couple and three children – have occupied the 26 m2 studio without a declared lease. The owners, in debt, are unable to sell the property until the squatters have left the premises. Several procedures have been initiated since 2019.
Pascal, the brother, had also testified to their situation of distress a week ago at the microphone of Olivier Delacroix on Europe 1: “We are in an unbearable situation. We already had to take credits to pay for certain works”. “We have to relocate the tenant but how do you expect me to relocate someone at my expense when it is not my tenant,” he added.
A court decision is due March 22.