Laurent Bonnaterre filed a complaint after receiving death threats on Twitter. He had publicly supported his colleague, the mayor of Mesnil-Esnard, whose gate had been padlocked a few days earlier.
Attacks against local elected officials are increasing in Seine-Maritime. A few days ago, the mayor du Mesnil-Esnard was locked up in his home, padlocks had been placed on his gate. A man has since been arrested.
On social networks, Laurent Bonnaterre, regional councilor and mayor of Caudebec-lès-Elbeufs, had then supported his colleague from Mesnil-Esnard. A support that earned him death threats.
In private message, the city councilor received an explicit threat. He decided to file a complaint:I don’t want these comments to be trivialized.” he reacts. Laurent Bonnaterre files a complaint for the 3th times for death threats received in his capacity as an elected official. “I am not afraid“, he continues, “the Twitter and Facebook platforms cannot be lawless zones. We can’t write just anything, because we’re online and we live far from our target”.
According to the law, a perpetrator of death threats risks up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros.
