AT least six prisons in France have been hit by “extremely serious” attacks overnight in a “coordinated” campaign.

Vehicles were set on fire in prison car parks and a prison in the southern city of Toulon was targeted by gunshots from an automatic weapon.

French justice minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on X: “Attempts have been made to intimidate staff in several prisons, ranging from burning vehicles to firing automatic weapons.

“I am going to Toulon to support the officers concerned.

“The French Republic is facing up to the problem of drug trafficking and is taking measures that will massively disrupt the criminal networks,” he added.

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