Quentin Deranque, a young Catholic activist and recent convert to the Catholic faith, died this weekend after sustaining serious head injuries during an attack by radical left activists in Lyon. He had been providing security at a right-wing political protest opposing an appearance by MEP Rima Hassan at Sciences Po University.
France’s Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin accused hard-left politicians of fuelling “unbridled violence” through their language and stated that Quentin was killed by the ultra-left.
Quentin was known as a traditional Catholic activist linked to right-wing political groups. The incident has further heightened tensions between France’s far right and hard left ahead of municipal elections in March and the 2027 presidential race.
The office of the Lyon prosecutor announced on February 14 that Quentin had died of his wounds. An investigation has been opened into suspected aggravated manslaughter. According to the prosecutor's office "significant" testimony had already been gathered and investigators were working on identifying the perpetrators.