Grindr-Linked Homophobic Attacks in Loiret

Between July 4 and July 7, 2025, several gay men aged between 25 and 35 were violently assaulted in ambush-style attacks in the town of Le Malesherbois, located in France’s Loiret department. All of the victims had initially been contacted through the dating app Grindr.

Premeditated and Violent Traps

The aggressors posed as potential matches and lured victims to a designated location under the pretense of a date. Upon arrival, the victims were invited into an apartment building by someone posing as their contact. Inside, a group of individuals lay in wait. The victims were held at knifepoint or gunpoint, both verbally and physically assaulted, and forced to hand over valuable belongings or perform bank transfers under duress.

Swift Investigation Leads to Arrests

The first two complaints were filed almost immediately after the incidents, prompting a criminal investigation led by the Pithiviers research unit. Local police acted quickly, and on Monday, July 7, a subsequent attack was interrupted in progress. Two suspects were caught red-handed after one of the victims alerted local police in Malesherbois.

Interrogations led to the identification of two additional suspects. Evidence tied the group to a total of four violent robberies with homophobic motives. The attacks appear to have been orchestrated by an organized group.

Judicial Proceedings and Detainment

On Wednesday, July 9, the four accused individuals were presented before the Orléans public prosecutor.

• Two adults were placed in pretrial detention as part of a delayed court appearance procedure.
• Two minors were placed under judicial supervision and are set to appear before a juvenile court.

Prosecutor Issues Call for Witnesses

In an official statement, Prosecutor Emmanuelle Bochenek-Puren urged anyone who may have experienced similar incidents to report them to the police or gendarmerie in their area in order to file a complaint.

📈 Context: Homophobic Violence Remains a Concern

According to figures from the Ministry of the Interior, anti-LGBTQ+ related crimes rose by 5% in 2024, a slower increase compared to prior years. Between 2016 and 2023, such hate crimes surged by an average of 15% annually.

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