Along the banks of the Seine in Choisy-le-Roi, a quiet bicycle path by day transforms into a perilous meeting place after dark. This stretch of riverfront has become the scene of violence, transient encounters, and profound misery, drawing both locals and migrants into its shadows.
On August 13, the bodies of four men were discovered in these waters, all believed to be victims of a suspected serial killer. The suspect, Monji H., a 21-year-old undocumented Tunisian national who had been living homeless in the area, was arrested on August 20. He had taken shelter just meters from the river in a makeshift dwelling near stagnant water.
Terrence Khatchadourian, general secretary of Stop Homophobie, now walks these paths nightly, engaging with those who still gather there. “We’re still searching for the families of two of the victims,” he explained, pointing toward the overgrown trail between the dark river and the RER C train tracks. “Young, homeless, North African—killed this summer. Did you know murders were committed right here just weeks ago?”
The area, known for its clandestine homosexual encounters, has long been a convergence point for vulnerable populations. By day, cyclists and joggers pass through unaware; by night, it becomes a landscape of risk and desperation.
As the investigation continues, the community grapples with the tragedy and the stark realities of life along the river’s edge.
