Jordan Bardella interrupted his speech in Orléans on Sunday, October 25, and began singing La Marseillaise after eight activists from the Union of French Jewish Students attempted to display a banner opposing racism and antisemitism. He said the anthem would continue while security personnel dealt with the situation.
The activists were confronted in the stands by men whose clothing differed from that of the National Rally’s regular security personnel, known as the Département protection sécurité, or DPS. Several wore black surgical masks, protective gloves and dark sports jackets. According to images reviewed by Le Monde, they moved against the activists as they tried to remove them from the venue.
The students were pinned down and struck amid blows from some spectators. One left the hall with a bleeding nose. Lawyers for the Union of French Jewish Students said they would file complaints alleging group violence and false reporting, after the National Rally accused the organization of being violent. The lawyers said several students had been hit, choked, insulted and threatened before being forcibly removed.
At least three of the men appeared in images wearing clothing modeled on that of certain law-enforcement intervention units. They also displayed a large round patch, either on their shoulders or bags, showing a yellow-winged eagle in front of the Eiffel Tower and bearing the words “Groupe action mobile 75.”
The group was present during the campaign launch held in Orléans on October 24 and 25. The available account identifies it as an internal response unit tasked with locating and removing potential counter-protesters. Most of the rest of the report is reserved for subscribers.
Sources: Le Monde.