Marseille teen faces 'barbarism' charge for setting woman on fire

A 15-year-old minor was brought before a judge in Marseille on Sunday for potential indictment on charges of "act of barbarism" after allegedly spraying a flammable substance on a woman and igniting it. The prosecutor's office will request his pre-trial detention. The attack occurred on October 1, 2026, near Lycée Colbert during a student protest. The 40-year-old victim, a home care worker, intervened to stop youths from damaging a bus shelter. The suspect then sprayed and ignited the substance toward her face. He was arrested the next day and confessed, expressing regret. The suspect, a student at the school, was previously unknown to police. The victim, speaking to BFMTV, said she was shocked by the deliberate attack on her face, questioning the motive for such violence.