Investigative judges add racial aggravation charge to Crépol stabbing case
Investigative judges added racial aggravation charges despite initial prosecutor opposition.
Event / Security
Crépol Dance Hall Stabbing
In November 2023, a 16-year-old student was fatally stabbed at a village dance in Crépol, France, with three others seriously wounded. Fourteen young men were charged with murder and attempted murder. In July 2026, investigating judges added racial aggravation charges based on witness testimony about anti-white statements made at the scene.
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2026-08-15 to 2026-11-12 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 23 Jul, 15:14 UTC
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What happened
Civil rights advocacy group submits lengthy legal observations
The Alliance générale contre le racisme et pour l'identité française et chrétienne (Agrif), a civil rights association assisting victims, submitted 30 pages of written observations to the investigative judge to establish the motivation for anti-white and anti-French racism charges. The organization has been accompanying victims since June 2024.
Prosecutor declined racial aggravation charge initially
The prosecutor initially did not include the racial aggravation charge in their definitive requisition when they requested the referral of 11 of the charged individuals to the assize court for murder and attempted murder in June 2024.
Investigative judges add racial aggravation charge to murder case
Investigative judges added the aggravating circumstance of racism to the charges against all defendants in the Thomas Perotto murder case. This decision was based on approximately a dozen witness testimonies reporting anti-white statements made at the end of the village dance, including the phrase 'we are here to stab Whites.' The judges reopened the investigation after receiving written observations from civil parties who had complained that these testimonies were not previously considered.
Fourteen young men charged in connection with the stabbing
Fourteen young men were charged after the incident, all with murder and attempted murder in organized band. Some of the individuals involved reportedly came from the Monnaie neighborhood in nearby Romans-sur-Isère. None of the defendants has ever admitted to delivering the fatal blow.
16-year-old Thomas Perotto fatally stabbed at village dance in Crépol
Thomas Perotto, a 16-year-old rugby enthusiast and high school student, was fatally stabbed during a confrontation at the winter dance (bal de l'hiver) in the village of Crépol on the night of November 18-19, 2023. He died during transport to the hospital. Three other people were also seriously wounded in the incident.
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