The Corsican independence activist Yvan Colonna was seriously attacked on Wednesday March 2 in the prison of Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône). The main suspect is another detainee, with a very violent profile.
Sentenced for terrorism
Originally from Cameroon but of French nationality, he is 36 years old and was sentenced in 2015 to nine years in prison, for “association of terrorist criminals”, indicated a source close to the file. This man had gone to Afghanistan to do jihad, before being arrested in 2012 by American soldiers. He had been detained for a time at the Bagram base, before being transferred to France.
A very violent inmate
While he was in the prison of Condé-sur-Sarthe (Orne) in the summer of 2019, the individual had committed 14 acts of violence, damage or fire in his cell, reported colleagues . He also allegedly tried to escape and assaulted the staff.
Maid service
The alleged attacker was a floor assistant and was cleaning the prison weight room when he threw himself on Yvan Colonna. The latter, who was doing a sports session, was beaten, strangled and suffocated.
The reasons for this gesture are not yet known and no incident between the two men had been reported before. An investigation for attempted murder has been opened and the national anti-terrorist prosecutor’s office has been contacted.