The driver suspected of being at the origin of the death of Aymen, a 14-year-old teenager, during the celebrations in Montpellier of the semi-final of the Football World Cup was arrested this Tuesday, December 27 at the very beginning of the day, according to France3 Occitania and ” the Parisian “. Information confirmed at the end of the morning by AFP.
A teenager killed by a driver in Montpellier after France-Morocco: what we know
The driver who had been wanted since December 14 was arrested near Perpignan around 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning, according to sources close to the investigation relayed by the local channel. It would be a 20-year-old man, according to the same information.
Quickly identified thanks to testimonies at the time of the tragedy, he was arrested shortly after crossing the border with Spain where he had been hiding until now. He would have spent the last days in Andalusia, with relatives, according to the source of the “Parisian”. His vehicle had previously been found abandoned but had fled.
Two young men hit by the car
The facts occurred in the working-class district of La Paillade in Montpellier. On several videos of the scene, which circulate on social networks, we see the vehicle with a man on board showing what appears to be a tricolor flag. While stopped at a crossroads in the Louisville area, the vehicle was surrounded by Moroccan supporters who tried to recover its flag.
The driver therefore initiates a maneuver to attempt to make a U-turn, at high speed. The car smashes into the crowd and mows down two young men, including the 14-year-old boy. The first gets up without difficulty, but the second lies unconscious.
The driver of the vehicle then fled before being identified on December 16 and “actively wanted by law enforcement”in the words of the prefect of Hérault, Hugues Moutouh in a press release.
3,000 people in a silent march
The death of the young teenager had sparked a wave of emotion and violence. Clashes had taken place, forcing the prefect to call the ” calm “ et al’“appeasement”. Aymen’s family had also called “in the greatest calm” in a declaration communicated at his request by the town hall of Montpellier, ensuring his “confidence in the institutions of the Republic”.
A silent march was also organized on December 20, bringing together 3,000 people. On a banner present in the procession, one could read in particular “Justice for Aymen”tells France3.
A tribute ceremony also took place on December 16 at the college of Montpellier where the boy was educated, in the presence of the mayor of Montpellier Mickaël Delafosse and the rector of the academy Sophie Bejean.
