Investigations following racist chants at a nightclub in Rodez

Rodez – 24.06.2026: On the night of June 4 to 5, 2026, an incident occurred at the Loft89 nightclub in Rodez that is now shocking the French public. In a video recorded in the club’s smoking area, six or seven young people can be seen raising their glasses and chanting racist slogans. The main shout was: “Marine in power, Arabs to the slaughterhouse!”

The video was published on June 21, 2026, on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, causing great outrage. The person who recorded the video, who remains anonymous, said that the young people repeated the slogans several times. While some club attendees remained passive, others loudly responded to the slogans. The woman decided to record after confronting those involved about their behavior.

The management of Loft89 reacted quickly and issued a statement condemning the behavior. In addition, the club assured full cooperation with the investigating authorities. “We condemn these acts with the utmost firmness and are working closely with the competent authorities,” it was stated.

Political representatives from the region also expressed their shock at the events. Laurent Alexandre, deputy of the second electoral district of Aveyron, addressed the prosecutor’s office on June 21, 2026, requesting a swift clarification. Mayor Stéphane Mazars emphasized that “racism is not an opinion” and called for rapid legal measures.

The Tajmaât organization, which defends the rights of the Maghreb community, strongly condemned the incident and began a search for witnesses. It described the scene as a new trivialization of dangerous speeches that intentionally attack people of Maghreb origin and spoke of an open call to murder.

The Rodez prosecutor’s office opened an investigation for incitement to racial hatred, which is being carried out by the local police. So far, the perpetrators have not been identified, although there are indications that they are local students. Investigations continue.

This incident adds to a series of similar cases in France, where public racist statements have generated outrage and investigations. For example, in March 2026 a candidate from the Rassemblement National in Gap was already investigated for statements in an online video that glorified racism and Nazism.

The repeated cases underline the ongoing challenges in France to confront racism and discrimination, and highlight the urgency of taking decisive measures.