Saint-Étienne: Two people in police custody after a homophobic attack in a bar

Two people were taken into custody following a violent attack that occurred on the night of Saturday, July 11, to Sunday, July 12, in front of ZanzyBar, an establishment in downtown Saint-Étienne known as a gay bar. The incident took place shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Rue de la Résistance, when a group of individuals got out of a vehicle and attacked several people sitting on the terrace.

The altercation resulted in several injuries. According to initial findings, several customers were assaulted, and one suffered a hand injury from a shard of glass. Firefighters responded to treat the victims, while law enforcement quickly secured the scene and launched an investigation.

An investigation has been launched to find all the perpetrators.

Thanks to witnesses noting the vehicle's license plate, police were able to identify the suspects. Two people were arrested and taken into custody. The investigation is ongoing to determine the precise circumstances of the incident and to identify any other possible participants in the attack.

Authorities condemned the violence, which they considered a homophobic attack. The Loire prefecture reiterated that "homophobia is not an opinion, it is a crime," while the City of Saint-Étienne expressed its support for the victims and announced its participation in a solidarity rally organized for Monday, July 13, in front of the school.