Judicial Inquiry Launched into Death of El Hacen Diarra in Paris Police Custody

The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a judicial investigation following the death of El Hacen Diarra, a 35-year-old Mauritanian man who died while in police custody in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. Authorities are investigating whether the death resulted from voluntary violence by public officials during a violent arrest on the night of January 13-14.

Diarra's family has accused police officers of excessive force. Eyewitnesses captured video footage showing two officers detaining Diarra, with one seen striking him as he lay on the ground. The Paris prosecutor has called on anyone with information or evidence to aid the investigation.

An autopsy revealed that Diarra died from cardiac failure in the context of massive tracheobronchial inhalation, but the exact cause remains to be established. The forensic report noted multiple injuries, including skin abrasions on his legs, a 1.5 cm by 0.2 cm bleeding wound on his right frontotemporal area, and blood stains at the site where he was restrained. Notably, the presence of a large amount of gastric regurgitation and a post-mortem fracture of the thyroid cartilage raise concerns of possible strangulation.

Diarra himself reportedly said he was being strangled during his arrest. His lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, cited these findings as evidence supporting claims of a violent arrest and strangulation.

The ongoing investigation aims to clarify the circumstances of Diarra's death amid serious allegations of police violence. Further forensic examinations expected over the coming weeks will provide additional insights into what happened during the detention process.