Four Bodies Found in Seine Near Paris Suburbs...Suspected Anti-Gay Hate Crime? Man in His 20s Arrested

Suspected Hate Crime Against Gay Men Under Investigation
Authorities Arrest Male Suspect in His 20s

Recently, an incident occurred in which the bodies of four men were found in the Seine River, which runs through downtown Paris, France. Local investigative authorities have launched an investigation, arresting and charging a male suspect. On August 25, Yonhap News, citing the daily Le Parisien, reported that on August 13, four bodies were discovered in the Seine near Choisy-le-Roi, south of Paris.

Four male bodies were recently found in the Seine River running through downtown Paris, France. Local authorities have arrested and charged a male suspect as part of the investigation. Photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by AFP and Yonhap News.

The bodies were first discovered by a passenger on a train passing near the Seine. After spotting the bodies floating on the river, the passenger immediately reported it to the police. According to the authorities' investigation, the victims were identified as a 48-year-old Frenchman, a 21-year-old Algerian, and two homeless men (a 21-year-old Algerian and a 26-year-old Tunisian). As investigators narrowed their search to people close to the victims, they arrested a man in his 20s, believed to be of Tunisian origin, as the prime suspect on August 20.

The suspect was reportedly acquainted with two of the victims and was found in possession of their credit cards, identification, and mobile phones, raising suspicions. Authorities stated that although the suspect has not cooperated with the investigation, multiple circumstances have led them to believe he is guilty of murder, and he was provisionally charged that day. Investigators are also looking into the motive, considering the fact that some of the victims were gay and that the crime scene is known as a meeting place for gay men, suggesting the possibility of a hate crime motivated by homophobia.

Why Is There Backlash Over the Seine River Opening After 100 Years?

Meanwhile, in early July, the city of Paris opened a "Seine swimming pool" for the first time in about 100 years, sparking a wave of criticism from Algerians on social media. For Algerians, the Seine is a site of painful historical memory. On October 17, 1961, Algerians, then under colonial rule, held a protest in Paris against France, which was met with a violent police crackdown that left up to 200 people dead. Parisian police disposed of dozens of Algerian bodies in the Seine River.

A swimming pool opened on the Marais Canal in the center of the Seine River. Photo by Yonhap News

This incident remained largely unknown due to a cover-up by French authorities until former President Francois Hollande officially acknowledged the reality of the event in 2012, 51 years after it occurred. Known as the "Paris Massacre," the event remains a horrific memory for Algerians. Last year, during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which featured a parade on the Seine, the Algerian team honored the victims by scattering red roses on the river. Coincidentally, July 5-the day the Seine swimming pool opened-is also Algeria's Independence Day, marking its liberation from French colonial rule in 1962 and the country's most significant national holiday. One Algerian commented, "On our Independence Day, did Parisians really think swimming in the waters where our martyrs were killed was the best idea?" Another social media user criticized, "Allowing swimming in the Seine on the day dedicated to the memory of our martyrs is a provocation by the city of Paris."