The young man died in hospital where he was admitted on Thursday to receive treatment for critical injuries on the fringes of an event held by LFI MEP Rima Hassan.
Quentin D, 23, has died in hospital from a traumatic brain injury after being violently attacked in Lyon on Thursday, on the sidelines of a conference by LFI MEP Rima Hassan at the Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po), the Lyon prosecutor’s office told AFP.
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Quentin was a member of the security team responsible for providing security to the activists of right-wing group Collectif Némésis, as they staged a protest against the visit of the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) politician to the city.
The young man was very seriously injured after suffering multiple severe blows to the head. The hospital later said that Quentin was in critical condition after having sustained a concussion and was placed in a coma.
The Lyon Public Prosecutor's Office said they have launched an investigation into the incident. The attack is now being investigated under charges of aggravated manslaughter, officials said on Saturday.
Prosecutors also said the perpetrators of the attack have not yet been identified and police are continuing their efforts to locate the suspects.
Macron calls for 'calm, restraint and respect'
French President Emmanuel Macron mourned the young man's death, in a post on X expressing his condolences and sending his thoughts and "the nation's support" to his family and loved ones.
He denounced the "unprecedented outburst of violence" that led to Quentin's death, stressing that killing over ideological differences will never be justified in the French Republic.
"On the contrary, the very purpose of our institutions is to civilise debates and protect the free expression of arguments," wrote the French president.
Macron vowed to identify the perpetrators of this vicious assault and bring them to justice.
"The hatred that kills has no place among us."
The French leader ended his post by calling for calm, restraint and respect during this difficult time for the country.
Politicians of all ideologies condemned the event, with several figures from the right and far-right pointing the finger at the far-left, anti-fascist activists, and even La France Insoumise directly.
"The beating to death of Quentin by ultra-left militants is horrifying evidence of the extreme violence that reigns in the satellites that gravitate around LFI", said Bruno Retailleau, leader of The Republicans party.
"Given the seriousness of the threats and the criminal intentions clearly demonstrated, the government must consider these militias as terrorist groups", said Marine Le Pen.
"Please stop trying to implicate Rima Hassan and La France Insoumise in this tragedy", wrote Manuel Bompard, LFI coordinator, in a post on X on Saturday.
Hassan condemned the attack and said that her party's security detail were not involved.
LFI offices vandalised
Multiple LFI offices were vandalised in several regions in France following the incident on Thursday.
"Last night, our premises and offices were attacked all over the country after Retailleau and Le Pen made a call, covering up and repeating baseless accusations against the rebels by exploiting the tragedy in Lyon", said Jean-Luc Mélenchon, LFI founder and leader.
For the time being, it is not clear whether any arrests have been made. Sciences Po Lyon has not yet reacted to the incident which took place on their premises.