Four days after an assault in downtown Rouen, Helena, a student whose name has been changed to protect her anonymity, still bears visible signs of the attack. Her left eye remains swollen with a severe hematome, marking the blows she received on the afternoon of Saturday, October 24. The incident occurred during a demonstration organized as part of the second phase of a national mobilization launched on October 17 in the capital of the Normandy region.
Helena attributes the violence to a group of far-right militants, consisting of several dozen nationalists and identity activists who engaged in street fights with other demonstrators, including antifascists. She described facing a group that insulted and threatened them while carrying bar chairs, bottles, and iron bars. Although she admitted to responding with insults and provocations, she expressed fear that the situation might be turned against her.
According to Helena's account, the group eventually charged at them. One individual knocked her to the ground, followed by another who struck her in the face. The event has led to a formal complaint targeting 'Gros Lardon,' a well-known local figure within the identity movement, for his alleged involvement in these violent acts.
Sources: Le Monde.