Explosion in the center of Paris: the investigations entrusted to an investigating judge

The investigations into the explosion followed by the collapse of a building in the 5th arrondissement of Paris on June 21, which left one dead and around fifty injured, were entrusted to an investigating judge on Monday, said this Thursday sources close to the file and judicial.

The judicial information was opened for manslaughter, involuntary injuries with ITT of more and less than three months, by manifestly deliberate violation of an obligation of safety or prudence provided for by law or regulation, specified the judicial source. , confirming information from franceinfo.

Lead and asbestos in the rubble

“The investigating judge will now be able to order expert reports in order to understand the origin of the disaster”, she continued, specifying that “the investigations are now complicated by the presence of lead and asbestos in the rubble”.

On June 21, at the end of the afternoon, a building located rue Saint-Jacques had collapsed, after an explosion followed by a fire. After six days of searching, a body was found under the rubble. It would be a woman, professor at the private fashion school, the Paris American Academy, located in the building, a 17th century pavilion, classified as a historical monument and bordering the courtyard of honor of the former abbey of Val de Grace. According to a latest assessment, “three injured remained in absolute emergency”, said Thursday a source close to the file.

“A suspicious smell of gas”

The investigations must in particular determine the origin of the accident. The first witnesses, heard within the framework of the investigation entrusted to the 3rd district of the judicial police of Paris, evoked “a smell of gas”.

About sixty families remained deprived of access to their accommodation and have since been relocated by social landlords, with relatives or in a hotel, announced the mayor of the 5th arrondissement Florence Berthout during a point on this drama at the Council of Paris Wednesday.

Nine addresses are affected by an order prohibiting access and housing near number 277, address of the collapsed building.