The three French border police officers were arrested on suspicion of “police violence”. They were released after several hours in police custody.
Three police officers were arrested by Tunisian authorities at Tunis airport on Wednesday. According to Le Parisien, these border police officers were escorting a Tunisian man under an obligation to leave French territory (OQTF). The latter had been convicted of acts of violence with weapons and of advocating terrorism.
However, upon their arrival in Tunisia, the three police officers were arrested on suspicion of “police violence” against this man. The facts date back to the day before, during boarding at Marseille-Provence airport. According to a French police source, the Tunisian national rebelled on the tarmac. The police intervened and brought him under control.
Unclear situation
The situation then calmed down on the plane. According to this same source, the man even apologized to the agents. However, a passenger on the plane, a lawyer, filmed the altercation and sent the video to the Tunisian authorities. Upon their arrival in Tunis, the officers were arrested for “police violence” and questioned for more than six hours. They were then released during the night from Wednesday to Thursday.
“They were able to collect their passports and return to their hotels before leaving Tunisia without incident,” mentions the French Ministry of the Interior. According to Grégory Joron, general secretary of the police union SGP FO, this is an unprecedented situation.
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