French authorities said on Wednesday that at least nine pig heads placed outside mosques in Paris and nearby suburbs were deposited by foreign nationals who “immediately left the territory,” after opening a hate-crime probe into the incidents. Police previously reported discoveries at sites including Paris’ 15th, 18th and 20th arrondissements as well as Montreuil, Montrouge, Malakoff and Gentilly.
The Paris prosecutor’s office, citing early findings, said the operation appeared intended to provoke public disorder. Some heads had “Macron” scrawled on them in blue ink, according to police and local media.
A Normandy farmer told investigators that two people bought about ten pig heads from him before the acts; the buyers used a vehicle with what was believed to be a Serbian license plate, French outlets reported, citing the prosecutor.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez condemned the “despicable acts” and noted the scale suggested coordination. He also drew parallels with prior incidents that officials linked to foreign interference.
Reuters previously reported that nine heads were found, five bearing President Emmanuel Macron’s name; authorities did not initially say who might be behind the acts. Wednesday’s prosecutor update is the first official indication that the suspects were foreigners who have since departed France.
An investigation for aggravated incitement to hatred is under way, and authorities appealed for information.