A 13-year-old boy was caught as about ten youths dressed in black and carrying iron bars fled from police.[1] The intervention took place in Montpellier’s Croix d’Argent district shortly before 11pm on Wednesday 28 October 2026.[1] A resident had called the emergency number 17 to alert the police to the group.[2] An anti-crime squad (BAC) crew had been sent after the report.[3]

During the check, officers found a cigarette packet containing a hand-rolled cigarette and several small pieces of cannabis resin, as well as pliers.[1] A mallet and a 100 ml tear-gas canister were also recovered.[1] A large stone was found in one of his pockets.[3] He told officers that another youth, aged 16, had slipped the stone into his pocket and that he meant to get rid of it.[1]

He was placed in police custody for questioning.[2] There he denied owning some of the items, including the mallet and the tear gas.[3] After the custody ended, he was brought before the Montpellier juvenile prosecutor’s office on the morning of 29 October.[1]