“The first elements in our possession suggest that these people do not belong to the BRAV-M (Brigade for the repression of violent actions – motorcyclist)”, wrote the police headquarters (PP) on Friday in a tweet.
“In any case, the prefect of police opens an administrative investigation and seizes the prosecutor of the Republic of Paris”, added the PP.
The C8 channel told AFP on Saturday morning that it had “received four police officers. Of the four, one was dismissed in December”. “It was clarified on the air that not all were part of the BRAV-M,” added the channel.
According to several sources familiar with the matter, this man, whose name is Cédric, who appeared as the spokesperson on the set, was stationed in Seine-Saint-Denis (a suburb of Paris), before being dismissed. He was affiliated with the union FPIP (Independent Professional Federation of the National Police), classified on the extreme right.
On Friday, in the program Touche pas à mon poste (TPMP) on C8 hosted by Cyril Hanouna, four people (three men and one woman), their faces hooded, a black hood on their heads and their voices modified, an orange armband marked police on the arm, some presented themselves as members of the BRAV-M.
“We would like to make a small clarification, there are among us members of the BRAV-M and members of the specialized units who intervene in the maintenance of order and we have done this all our career”, said on the tray one of these people.
However, according to concordant sources familiar with the matter, none is a member of the BRAV-M. One is stationed in Yvelines, another in Val-de-Marne and the woman is in Seine-Saint-Denis. These three people are close to Cédric.
Arcom, the audiovisual regulator in France, told AFP on Saturday morning that it had been “seized by viewers”. The authority, according to its “usual procedure”, will “view the sequence in question and instruct it if necessary”.
C8 (channel of the Canal+ group, controlled by the conservative billionaire Vincent Bolloré) has been pinned on multiple occasions by Arcom because of Cyril Hanouna’s programs having caused controversy.
At the beginning of February, C8 had been sentenced to a record fine of 3.5 million euros following the insults hurled live by its star host at the LFI deputy (La France Insoumise, far left) Louis Boyard in November.
