A dramatic event took place in Montpellier on the night of October 29 to 30, 2024. Two hooded individuals orchestrated a daring robbery in a grocery store on Avenue de Toulouse, sowing panic among customers and the manager, before putting the fire at the establishment. This robbery, which turned into arson, caused excitement and indignation in the city.
Located at the start of Avenue de Toulouse, near the May 8, 1945 roundabout, the grocery store was the target of a nighttime assault. Around 3:40 a.m., hooded and armed individuals burst into the night business, transforming an ordinary evening into a nightmare for the customers there. A handgun was brandished, forcing everyone to evacuate the premises without delay.
Impact on the community and continuation of the investigation
The incident deeply shocked the residents of the neighborhood and the Montpellier community as a whole. Investigations have been opened by the Interdepartmental Judicial Police Service (SIPJ) of Montpellier, which is examining this case with particular attention because several similar cases have occurred in the city over the past year. The prospect of a change of ownership for this grocery store loomed in the coming weeks, heightening the drama around this ruthless attack.
Arson: a premeditated act
The attackers did not stop there. In the middle of the night, armed with a jerrycan of gasoline, they sprinkled the ground with fuel before setting it on fire. The reckless manager tried to intervene to put out the flames but suffered burns to his legs, requiring rapid hospitalization.