Threatening letter with two bullets: Mayor of Alès under judicial protection

Alès – 17 July 2026: Two bullets in an envelope, along with threats on the property wall: according to the judicial authorities, the mayor of Alès, Christophe Rivenq, was the target of serious intimidation on Thursday. The envelope is said to have been placed in the mailbox of his home. The inscription referred to the criminal group DZ Mafia. Authorship of this signature has not yet been established.

According to consistent reports in French media, the mayor’s wife discovered the envelope when she returned home. Threatening graffiti had also been placed on the fence surrounding the house. The two bullets are believed to be 9-millimeter caliber. For the mayor’s family, the incident represents a serious intrusion into their private daily life – and for the city, a warning signal that goes far beyond property damage.

The Alès public prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into death threats and intimidation. The prosecutor in charge said that the threats against the mayor were being taken very seriously. According to media reports, the Alès police station and the police unit specializing in organized crime in the Gard department are handling the investigation.

Christophe Rivenq, mayor of Alès and president of the Alès Agglomération municipal association, said he had never previously received threats of this magnitude. The politician said he intends to continue his municipal work. This very determination is part of the particular situation faced by elected officials: what begins as an attack on one person can undermine confidence in a municipality’s ability to act.

No link between the threatening letter and specific individuals or proceedings has currently been established. It also remains unclear whether members of DZ Mafia were actually behind the act or whether the name was used to instill fear. Investigators must now secure evidence from the envelope and the graffiti, examine any available video footage, and trace the origin of the ammunition.

Alès, in the Gard department, has repeatedly faced violence linked to drug trafficking in recent months. As recently as late June, investigators arrested several people following a fatal shooting involving a young man. This background explains the authorities’ heightened attention, but does not constitute evidence of a connection to the threats against the mayor that have now come to light.

The case shows how directly organized crime – or simply its intimidating effect – can reach local communities. The key question will be whether the investigation can quickly establish who left the envelope and what their motive was. Until then, the presumption of innocence applies to all those who may be involved. For Christophe Rivenq and his relatives, security is the immediate priority.