Murder of Philippe Coopman in Grande-Synthe: the cousin of an indicted person attacked

A 15-year-old teenager, cousin of one of the two minors indicted on Friday April 19 for the assassination of Philippe Coopman in Grande-Synthe (North), was attacked during the night from Friday to Saturday in the same town, Agence France-Presse learned from the Dunkirk prosecutor

Murder of Philippe Coopman in Grande-Synthe: the cousin of an indicted person attacked

A 15-year-old teenager, cousin of one of the two minors indicted on Friday April 19 for the assassination of Philippe Coopman in Grande-Synthe (North), was attacked during the night from Friday to Saturday in the same town, Agence France-Presse learned from the Dunkirk prosecutor.

He “was the victim of aggravated violence” during the night from Friday to Saturday and suffered injuries leading to total incapacity for work (ITT) of more than eight days, specifies prosecutor Charlotte Huet. Personal effects were stolen from him, including his tracksuit and sneakers, she adds.

According to a police source, the teenager was found naked on the road by a motorist. This source adds that he said he was attacked by two hooded people, while he had an appointment via a social network. Another police source specifies that he was transported to hospital for minor treatment.

“The minor is the cousin of one of the people indicted” in the investigation into the death of Philippe Coopman, adds the prosecutor.

“Ambush”

Two minors, aged 14 and 15, were indicted and placed in pre-trial detention on Friday for the murder of this 22-year-old man, who died on Tuesday following blows to the head, a death which provoked intense emotion.

There are, at this stage of the investigation, reasons to believe that this is a “murder aggravated by the circumstance of ambush”, Charlotte Huet explained at a press conference on Friday. The two indicted say they “set up a meeting” with Philippe Coopman via a dating website, posing as a minor.

As the minor attacked during the night from Friday to Saturday has not yet been heard, “it is not possible to reliably conclude on the motive”, indicates the prosecutor.