Alexander Benalla, a deputy chief of staff of French President Emmanuel Macron, was taken under custody, Paris prosecutors said on Friday, as quoted by France Info radio station.
Vincent Crase, an employee of Macron's political party, who was accompanying Benalla during the May Day demonstration, has been accused of violence and temporarily suspended from work.
READ MORE: Macron Scolded for 'Covering' for Security Aide Who Beat May Day Protester
French President Emmanuel Macron was made aware of “new facts that could constitute misdemeanor by Alexandre Benalla” and sacked the infamous aide, a member of Macron’s office said on Friday, as quoted by Reuters.
"As a result… the presidency has decided to start Alexandre Benalla's dismissal procedure."
Left-wing French politicians, who lamented that Macron’s entourage was “above the law”, denounced the fact that the president didn’t fire the aide straight away.
In a video published by Le Monde on Wednesday, Alexandre Benalla, Macron's deputy chief of staff, is seen wearing a police visor; he is filmed dragging a woman and then striking and stamping on a protester during May Day street marches, which are organized every year in the French capital by trade unions.
Macron's spokesman said on Thursday that Benalla got a two-week suspension as punishment following the incident. However, the presidential office apparently hasn't reported the act of violence to law enforcement authorities, as the security aide can be seen in multiple photos alongside his president during public events.
Paris prosecutors are questioning the aide, who risks facing charges of violence, as well as illegally using signs of public authorities
