A disturbing video showing police officers repeatedly striking a man with batons during an arrest in Paris has gone viral, prompting an official investigation. The Paris prosecutor’s office announced Thursday that it has referred the case to the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN).
Violent Arrest Captured on Camera
The footage, which amassed over 400,000 views on Instagram in a single day, appears to show three helmeted police officers with batons and shields forcing a man toward their patrol vehicle on Rue Bichat in Paris’s 10th arrondissement. According to the source, the incident may have occurred on January 19, 2026.
In the video, filmed from an upper-floor window, the man is struck on the head with a baton within the first seconds, then receives three more blows to the legs from the same officer. Pinned against the hood of the police car, he is hit again on the knee. Another officer approaches, strikes him in the face, and pulls his hair to shove him away.
Context and Investigation Remain Unclear
The man, wearing a black sweatshirt, eventually runs away and disappears from view. Off-camera, a voice is heard shouting insults including “dégage” (get out), “connard” (asshole), and “kebab sur pattes” (a derogatory term).
The precise context of the arrest and the officers’ unit have not been confirmed. Police sources indicate the officers are being identified. The Paris Police Prefecture declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.
Second IGPN Probe in a Week
This marks the second case handed to the IGPN by the Paris prosecutor’s office within a week. It follows the death of El Hacen Diarra, a 35-year-old man who died in a Paris police station in the 20th arrondissement on the night of January 14-15, shortly after his arrest.
The provenance and full context of the viral video are still being determined, but the violence depicted has triggered a formal internal police investigation.
