A French police officer is under formal investigation after video footage showed him throwing a man to the ground during a music festival in Carcassonne, with the 29-year-old victim dying 13 days later. Prosecutors initially said there was no causal link between the officer's actions and the death, citing an autopsy that pointed to a "toxic cause" rather than the injury, but an inquiry into intentional violence by a public official was launched after the footage caused widespread public outrage.

The incident occurred on 21 June when officers were called to a group drinking and playing music during the Fête de la Musique festival; the clip shows five officers surrounding the man before one throws him to the ground by the collar, leaving him curled up and clutching his head. The victim, named as Youssef E, was described by prosecutors as having a history of substance use, a claim disputed by his brother Hamza, who said he was not homeless or addicted to drugs. The General Inspectorate of Police is now investigating the officer, who worked the night shift at Carcassonne station, amid a wider backdrop of violence at this year's nationwide festival, which saw around 240 arrests, stabbings and sexual assaults reported across France.