Several prisons across France were targeted in a series of attacks overnight, according to the country’s justice minister.

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Gérald Darmanin revealed that the attacks were acts of “intimidation attempts” which included burning vehicles and gunfire involving automatic weapons.

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According to La Parisien, cars were set ablaze in the parking areas of multiple prisons. In Toulon, gunshots were fired at a prison using an automatic weapon.

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The newspaper named six affected prisons located in Toulon, Aix-en-Provence, Marseille, Valence, Nîmes, Luynes, Villepinte, and Nanterre.

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Darmanin posted on X that he was heading to Toulon to show his support for the prison officers impacted by the incidents.

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While he didn’t directly state who was responsible, he said the French government was “facing up to the problem of drug trafficking” and taking steps that would “profoundly disrupt” criminal networks.

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The prison guard union, FO Justice, expressed its "deepest concern and anger" following the "extremely serious" attacks overnight.

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The union posted updates from the aftermath of several attacks on X, including images of bullet holes in the Toulon prison windows, and of burnt-out vehicles in other prison car parks.

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It called for urgent government action to protect prison staff.

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