Grenade Attack in Grenoble: Bruno Retailleau Vows to Find the Perpetrator

During a visit to Grenoble this Friday, February 14, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau strongly condemned the attack that took place on Tuesday evening in a bar in the Village Olympique district. A grenade exploded, injuring around fifteen people, six of them seriously. “All limits have been crossed,” he declared, calling the act “totally unacceptable” and referring to the use of “warfare techniques.”

An Unprecedented Criminal Act

According to initial investigations, a hooded man armed with a Kalashnikov-style assault rifle entered the bar without saying a word, threw a grenade, and fled on foot. The minister stated that the explosive device was “very specific, designed more to injure than to kill, with a dual effect and 3,000 metal pellets.”

While the terrorist motive has been ruled out, the attack appears to be linked to organized crime and drug trafficking. The targeted establishment was under investigation by the Departmental Anti-Fraud Committee (CODAF) and was about to be shut down due to identified illicit activities.

Ongoing Investigation

The police are actively searching for the perpetrator. Bruno Retailleau assured that “we will find those responsible,” emphasizing that a team of 20 investigators has been assigned to the case, reinforced by national units.

During his visit, the minister also highlighted that Grenoble is one of the cities most affected by drug-related violence, with 48 shootings and six deaths in 2024. He announced the launch of a new strategy to combat drug trafficking, stressing the need to “fight on equal terms against this extreme violence.”

Meeting with the Mayor of Grenoble

Bruno Retailleau met with Grenoble’s mayor, Éric Piolle (The Greens), who defended his security policies. Responding to accusations of laxity, the mayor pointed out that the city has 120 surveillance cameras and that the municipal police are equipped with tasers, tear gas canisters, and telescopic batons.

This ministerial visit, initially scheduled before the attack, aimed to present the government’s strategy against organized crime and drug trafficking.