Protest
Corsica unrest following the assault on Yvan Colonna, 2022
The fatal prison assault on nationalist figure Yvan Colonna triggered riots across Corsica and renewed pressure for autonomy talks.
What happened
On 2 March 2022, Yvan Colonna, a Corsican nationalist serving a life sentence for the 1998 assassination of prefect Claude Erignac and regarded by many Corsicans as a hero, was severely beaten by a fellow inmate in a mainland French prison, leaving him in a coma.[1] He died in hospital on 21 March 2022.[2]
The attack triggered rallies and riots in Ajaccio, Calvi and Bastia, with clashes between protesters and gendarmes leaving dozens injured.[3]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: On 2 March 2022, Yvan Colonna, a Corsican nationalist serving a life sentence for the 1998 assassination of Corsica's prefect Claude Erignac and regarded by many Corsicans as a hero, was severely beaten by a fellow inmate in a French mainland prison, leaving him in a coma.
- Riots shake France's Corsica over assault on jailed nationalist (Al Jazeera, 10 March 2022) link, article text. Source record
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2.
Claim: Colonna died in hospital on 21 March 2022 from injuries sustained in the attack.
- Corsican nationalist Colonna dies after attack in jail: France (Al Jazeera, 22 March 2022) link, article text. Source record
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3.
Claim: The attack on Colonna triggered rallies and riots in Ajaccio, Calvi and Bastia, with clashes between protesters and gendarmes leaving dozens injured.
- Riots shake France's Corsica over assault on jailed nationalist (Al Jazeera, 10 March 2022) link, article text. Source record