France Condemns Racist Killing of Tunisian Citizen as Terrorism Probe Launched
Interior Minister visits Tunisian embassy as far-right violence and anti-immigrant rhetoric spark national outrage.
Watan-French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau visited the Tunisian embassy on Tuesday morning to express France’s solidarity with Tunisians following what he described as a “premeditated racist crime” after the murder of a Tunisian citizen in the town of Pujols-sur-Argens.
The victim was shot dead on Saturday by one of his neighbors. On Monday, Retailleau called the killing a “racist, premeditated crime” with “terrorist dimensions,” particularly since France’s National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor’s Office (PNAT) has taken over the case. This is the first time the PNAT has intervened in a suspected far-right terrorist attack on French soil.
The decision followed the discovery of a message published by the suspect shortly after the murder, which, according to a source close to the investigation, contained “political demands” and “anti-immigration rhetoric.” The message reportedly aimed to “spread terror among the population.”
L’abject Olivier Faure fait porter la responsabilité de l’horrible meurtre d’un tunisien à Puget-sur-argens au Ministre de l’Intérieur Bruno Retailleau.
Les mêmes qui passent leur temps à crier à la récupération politique pour les meurtres de Lola, Philippine ou Thomas.
Ils… pic.twitter.com/YzuDfA4dN6
— Bleu Blanc Rouge ! 🇫🇷 (@LBleuBlancRouge) June 3, 2025
The suspect, Christophe B., a 53-year-old blacksmith, lived in the same town. On the evening of the attack, he approached a neighbor’s house where a party was taking place, opened fire with five bullets at the Tunisian victim, and injured a Turkish national in the hand. He was arrested at the scene.
On Tuesday morning, Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure accused Minister Retailleau on TF1 of contributing to the normalization of public racism, saying Retailleau helps “fuel suspicion toward foreigners or French citizens perceived as foreign.”
Speaking on franceinfo, the victim’s family lawyer noted that while one of the victim’s sisters lives in France, the rest are in Tunisia. He said:”If the Minister wishes to meet the family, he should make the initiative. It is their right to accept or refuse, but at the very least, he should make the offer.”
🇫🇷⚖️TERRORISME – Il y a un mois, un fidèle a été tué d’une cinquantaine de coups de couteau, dans une mosquée, parce que musulman;
Hier, un tunisien a été abattu de 5 balles, parce que maghrébin.Et c’est la première fois que le parquet national antiterroriste (PNAT) se saisit… pic.twitter.com/7geG6fRXUo
— Debunker NEWS (@DebunkerNews) June 2, 2025
The lawyer blamed the attack on “a national climate of racism that has worsened over the past several months and years.” He added:”I’m not personally blaming Bruno Retailleau, but no one can ignore the current political and societal context in France.”
He went on to say: “It feels like we’re watching firefighters who set the fire, then return to put it out.”
The lawyer welcomed the involvement of the National Anti-Terrorism Prosecutor, stating:”This wasn’t just a random act—it was driven by ideology, not momentary rage. What we’re seeing is extremely dangerous.”
A “white march” to honor the victim will be held this Sunday in Pujols-sur-Argens, starting from the barbershop where the victim worked and ending at the town square. A donation campaign has also been launched to facilitate the repatriation of the victim’s body to Tunisia for burial.
