The U.S. State Department said it is closely following the investigation into the killing of a French far-right activist in Lyon by suspected hard-left militants, and indicated the case could fall within the category of terrorism. The Bureau of Counterterrorism said it was monitoring developments and flagged concerns about an increase in violent radical leftism.
In a post on X on Thursday, the Bureau warned that "violent radical leftism was on the rise" and described the phenomenon as a public safety threat. The bureau added: "We ... expect to see the perpetrators of violence brought to justice."
Under Secretary of State Sarah B. Rogers, a public diplomacy official who has recently criticized European governments on a range of issues, posted on X on Friday that she was also tracking the case. In her post she wrote: "Democracy rests on a basic bargain: you get to bring any viewpoint to the public square, and nobody gets to kill you for it. This is why we treat political violence - terrorism - so harshly."
Requests for comment to both the U.S. State Department and France's Foreign Ministry were not answered, according to the reporting. The Bureau of Counterterrorism in Washington is noted for its central role in crafting terrorist listings and coordinating related sanctions work, a portfolio that amplifies the significance of its public statements in politically sensitive cases.
The victim, referred to as Deranque, died last Saturday after clashes between far-left and far-right groups in Lyon. French prosecutors have opened a murder inquiry and said six people are under investigation. Separately, a former assistant to a lawmaker from France Unbowed (LFI), the hard-left party, has been charged with complicity through instigation.
Analysts cited in reporting say the killing has rattled France's political landscape. The incident has damaged the standing of LFI and, conversely, strengthened support for the far-right National Rally as the country approaches next year's presidential election. The case has also spilled into international diplomacy, touching off a dispute between President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
The State Department's commentary and the legal developments in Lyon come against a backdrop of ongoing tensions between Washington and Paris over trade, freedom of expression and foreign policy. Under Secretary Rogers has in recent months been a vocal critic of France's handling of tech regulation and free speech issues, a context that may give additional weight to the U.S. remarks on this particular incident.
At this stage, French investigations and potential legal determinations remain underway, and U.S. officials have signalled they will continue to monitor how authorities classify and pursue the case.