French police have arrested 11 people linked to the killing of 23-year-old far-right activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon last week. Deranque suffered a severe brain injury after being attacked by at least six people during a far-right protest against a left-wing politician speaking at a university. Lyon prosecutor Thierry Dran announced the arrest of nine suspects on Tuesday, followed by two more on Wednesday. Among those detained is an assistant to Raphaël Arnault, a hard-left MP from the France Unbowed (LFI) party. Arnault said he is firing the assistant. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of LFI, condemned the attackers, saying they had “dishonoured” themselves by acting with apparent lethal intent. An anti-immigration group called Nemesis said Deranque had been protecting its members during the protest. They blamed the killing on La Jeune Garde, a now-dissolved anti-fascist youth group co-founded by Arnault. La Jeune Garde denied involvement, while Arnault called the killing “horrific.” A witness described a “pitched battle” with people hitting each other with iron bars. A video aired by TF1 shows a group beating three people lying on the ground. The attack has heightened political tensions ahead of the March municipal elections and the 2027 presidential race, where the far-right National Rally party is a strong contender. Lawmakers observed a minute of silence in memory of Deranque. A march in his honour is planned in Lyon. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called the attackers “barbarians.” National Rally leader Jordan Bardella blamed Jean-Luc Mélenchon for moral responsibility, accusing him of letting suspected murderers enter the National Assembly. President Emmanuel Macron will step down in 2027 after two terms, and opinion polls currently show the far right leading the presidential race.