Police arrested over body in canal
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Three French police officers were arrested yesterday after the body of a man of Arab origin was found floating in a canal in Nantes.
The officers had already been questioned about a 33-year-old Tunisian, Taoufik el-Amri, who disappeared after they interrogated him on 22 November. The three said they had let the man go soon after arresting him as he left a bar. However, discrepancies emerged between their accounts and the evidence of other witnesses.
On Monday, the owner of a house boat found Mr Amri's identity and bank cards in canal Saint-Felix, 500 metres from the spot where the three police officers say they released him. Yesterday, the body of a man of North African origin was found nearby.
The public prosecutor for Nantes, Stephan Autin, said efforts were being made to identify the body. He said the officers had been arrested and the special police squad, which investigates police crimes, had been called in.
The three had been investigating a snatch theft in the centre of Nantes. They arrested Mr Amri as he left a bar with two friends. He has not been seen since.
The officers said they released him quickly after deciding his description did not fit that of the wanted man. M. Autin said "serious discrepancies" had emerged between the account of the officers and that of other witnesses at the place where the arrest took place, and the degree of intoxication of the missing man.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments