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French photojournalist in coma after youth gang attack

Christian Lantenois, 65, was assaulted in a car park in the north-eastern city of Reims while working for L'Union newspaper.

La rédaction de Mediapart

This article is freely available.

A French photojournalist is in a coma after being attacked at the weekend while covering youth violence, reports the BBC.

Christian Lantenois, 65, was assaulted in a car park in the north-eastern city of Reims while working for L'Union newspaper.

He was found bleeding from his ears after he sustained "very severe" head injuries in the attack.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with attempted aggravated murder and a second suspect has been identified.

The charged suspect is accused of beating the photographer with his fist and then using his own camera as a weapon against him.

The public prosecutor said Mr Lantenois was targeted "because he was a journalist" and had been trying to take photographs of individuals when he was spotted and set upon.

Read more of this report from the BBC.