Par

Julien Damboise

Published on Feb 18 2026 at 5:45 p.m.; updated Feb 18 2026 at 6:03 p.m.

The beating to death of Quentin Deranque, an identity activist, in the middle of the street in Lyon, provokes very virulent reactions on social networks. The LFI party, close to the Young Guard, is under pressure and particularly the Rhône deputy and candidate for mayor, Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifiwho had shown his support during the dissolution of the small ultra-left group. Requested by our editorial team, she did not respond but now denounces threats in a press release.

Violent threats

His public support for the small group provokes a torrent of hatred against the MP for several days. She denounces serious facts.

Since Friday, along with many comrades, I have been the target of constant death and rape threats, racist and sexist insults.

Anaïs Belouassa-Cherifi
LFI Deputy for Rhône

“From far-right supporters to the Prime Minister, including Hollande and Darmanin: they all feed this dangerous climate and bear a heavy responsibility for the surge of violence to which we are the object,” judges the person concerned, who reacted shortly after a bomb threat at the party headquarters in Paris this Wednesday.

We do not know if the mayoral candidate plans to file a complaint. Contacted multiple times by news LyonAnaïs Belouassa-Cherifi did not respond to our requests to clarify her links with the Young Guard and whether it continues to support their action.

An MP who strongly supported the Young Guard

Among the notable supporters of the Young Guard in Lyon, we indeed found the rebellious candidate for town hall. An elected official who did not hesitate to pose alongside Raphaël Arnault to oppose the dissolution of the extremist group.

She had also been filmed wearing a Young Guard t-shirt within the National Assembly.

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S’incrire

As a reminder, she strongly condemned the violence which led to the death of Quentin Deranque in Lyon. “My condolences and thoughts go to his family and those close to him. I hope that all light will be shed on this tragedy,” she wrote on X, following a first press release denouncing these acts.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon refutes any link with LFI

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the LFI leader, assured Sunday that “all the stories that were made in the hours that followed have no relation to reality.” “Everything was fakedarranged for make believe in a sort of expedition from the Insoumis order service to track down a poor unfortunate person,” he said again, affirming that “everything happened somewhere other than where Rima Hassan and the rebel security service were.”

“We have nothing to do with this story and those who accuse us. They are slanderers! », Says the latter, who maintains his support for the Young Guard.

The Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin, for his part, attributed Quentin’s death to the “ultra-left”, in an “indisputable” manner. Same story for Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez who points out the Young Guard. And according to our security sources, a large part of the eleven suspects arrested on Monday did indeed belong to the far-left radical movement born in Lyon.

The parliamentary assistant of the creator of the Young Guard arrested

Among the eleven people arrested is Jacques-Elie Favrot, parliamentary assistant to the LFI deputy Raphaël Arnaultco-founder of the Young Guard.

The name of Jacques-Elie Favrot had been circulating for several days and the young man lost his rights of access to the National Assembly on Monday although he denied, through his lawyer, “being responsible for the tragedy”. His presence at the scene or near the events was confirmed by several sources.

According to RTLhe could have dealt fatal blows to Quentin. Contacted by our colleagues, his lawyer, Maître Bernard Sayn, denies the fatal blows carried out by his client.

A second parliamentary assistant to LFI MP Raphaël Arnault and a former intern are also among the eleven people arrested as part of the investigation into the death of Quentin Deranque, theAFP two sources close to the investigation.

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