Overview

• Prosecutors in Bobigny confirmed the detention of twin brothers over the cutting down of an olive tree honoring Ilan Halimi in Épinay-sur-Seine.
• The pair are set to face immediate proceedings under a fast-track procedure for desecration aggravated by racial or religious hatred.
• Authorities have not disclosed the suspects’ identities, the timing of their arrests, or the trial date.
• Paris Match reported the men are Tunisian nationals without fixed address and were identified through DNA, a detail not publicly confirmed by prosecutors.
• National leaders condemned the act, local officials vowed to replant the tree, and recent interior ministry figures show antisemitic incidents in France rose sharply in 2023 and remained elevated last year.