Ilan Halimi

Ilan Halimi was a young French Jewish man of Moroccan descent who was kidnapped on 21 January 2006 by a group called the Gang of Barbarians and subsequently tortured, over a period of three weeks, resulting in his death.

A Bagneux, plaque in memory of Ilan Halimi found broken

Plaque in memory of Ilan Halimi, a young French Jew killed by the "gang of barbarians" in 2006 in Bagneux, in Hauts-de-Seine, was found broken Saturday, May 2 Alerted around 18 hours per one inhabitant, the city mayor, Marie-Hélène Amiable, did withdraw immediately. She was laid at the foot of a young oak tree in a park in the center of the city, in 2011. "It will be changed as soon as possible Monday" , said the one.

A complaint was lodged with the police station and an investigation was opened for  "malicious damage" informed the prosecutor of Nanterre. If the exact circumstances remain unknown, the police prefer for now assuming a stones throw. According to M me Amiable, it is likely an act of vandalism.
However, this last Sunday, 3 May told Agence France-Presse want to remain "prudent" because there is nothing to exclude formally that the plate has been hit by a "branch" or broken "balloon" . "For our city theater Calvary of Ilan Halimi, it is a very strong symbol. "

Even the doubts prosecution side, "there is currently no identifying information." This "seems to be a voluntary act" without being "completely affirmative" on this point. The interior minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said join in the grief of the family and relatives of Ilan Halimi while ensuring "his support and determination that quickly allows any investigation light be shed " .

Indignation policy

Even before the results of the investigation, several politicians have reacted to this information. On Twitter, the president of the UMP, Nicolas Sarkozy expressed his "dismay" .Asked about the community station Radio J, the Socialist Jack Lang expressed his "disgust" . "It is disgusting, there anti-Semitism in our country that is strong enough" , he stressed. The president of the Arab World Institute called for a "more radical policy" to combat all forms of racism, noting that there was also Islamophobia in France.

"I'm sorry, this is disappointing, it is an unspeakable act. But I'm even more surprised now it attacks everything, " said Philippe Obadia, representative of the Jewish community of Bagneux, which has about fifty families.Ilan Halimi was found naked, gagged and handcuffed near a railway track in the Essonne after being kidnapped and tortured for three weeks in the town of Hauts-de-Seine by the "gang of barbarians", which the chief, Youssouf Fofana, was sentenced to life imprisonment.