Hooded individuals claiming to be from the DZ Mafia released a video on July 22 denying involvement in death threats against Alès mayor Christophe Rivenq. The mayor had been exfiltrated from his home on July 20 by the RAID after bullets were found in his mailbox.
The sequence, lasting less than two minutes, shows five masked men in front of an Algerian flag and the DZ logo. The spokesperson reads a text addressed to the French population, stating that the video is their only way to be heard and firmly condemning this approach they deem cowardly.
The criminals believe this act harms their business and reputation. They deny any participation in the intimidation operation that led to the nighttime exfiltration of the LR mayor by the RAID.
Other mayors expressed shock at this escalation. They recall previous incidents, such as the execution of Amine Kessaci’s brother in Marseille in 2025 and intimidations against a judge in 2022, and demand more powers to combat drug trafficking.