Squad 36 (2025) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Antoine was transferred to the Bobigny Anti-Squad after a disciplinary review stemming from his visit to Marcus's illegal fighting den. Although he won a match, he was surrounded by rivals and had to defend himself, which drew scrutiny from his superiors. Despite his past achievements protecting him from suspension, the incident led to his transfer to a different unit rather than remaining in his original position.

• antoine cerda
• transfer
• bobigny
• disciplinary action
• marcus fighting den

The murders of Vinny, Walid, and other former squad members are initially linked to drug lord Mahmoudi as part of a revenge campaign. However, the deeper truth reveals a more complex conspiracy where higher-ups including Charles and Wagner orchestrated the cover-up of a botched off-the-books operation, using the murders and fear to protect themselves and maintain control over the squad.

Foreshadowing: Richard Esteves's anxiety after the botched mission for Mahmoudi planted the seeds for the conspiracy that would later target his colleagues.

• vinny
• walid
• murders
• mahmoudi
• anti-squad
• revenge

Richard Esteves was a former colleague who suffered severe anxiety after conducting a botched off-the-books mission for drug lord Mahmoudi. He checked into a rehabilitation clinic to recover, but his involvement in the illegal operation made him a liability. When he began talking to his wife Sofia about what happened, Sami executed both Richard and Sofia to prevent the truth from being exposed and protect the cover-up.

Foreshadowing: The botched mission that Richard carried out for Mahmoudi directly led to his status as a target for elimination.

• richard esteves
• sofia
• mahmoudi
• botched mission
• executed

Sami Belkaim executed Richard and Sofia because Richard knew the truth about the botched off-the-books mission carried out for Mahmoudi. When Richard began confiding in his wife Sofia about what had happened, Sami viewed them as a threat to the growing cover-up. He murdered them both to silence anyone who might reveal the truth about the illegal operation and the conspiracy involving higher-ranking officers.

Foreshadowing: Sami's leadership had already wavered under pressure from Wagner and Charles, setting the stage for his descent into murder to protect the conspiracy.

• sami belkaim
• richard
• sofia
• murder
• cover-up

The squad attempted to steal two million euros from Mahmoudi's drug network as part of an operation to take down the criminal organization. However, the operation spiraled out of control when Richard killed Mahmoudi's nephew Ichem during the chaos. This act turned Mahmoudi against the squad and triggered the deadly confrontation that followed, ultimately leading to Richard's death and the escalation of the conspiracy.

Foreshadowing: Richard's involvement in the botched mission made him unstable, and his killing of Ichem was driven by panic rather than tactical necessity.

• two million euros
• mahmoudi
• ichem
• heist
• operation failed

Hanna was shot while riding her bike as a direct warning to Antoine Cerda to stop investigating the murders and the conspiracy. The shooter used the same gun that Richard had used during his off-the-books mission for Mahmoudi, a deliberate tactic to link the shooting to Richard and steer suspicion away from the real conspirators within the police force.

Foreshadowing: Wagner's confirmation that the shots came from Richard's gun was designed to mislead Antoine and protect the cover-up.

• hanna shot
• warning
• richard gun
• investigation

Antoine Cerda was murdered by the same fighter he had previously beaten at Marcus's illegal fighting den. This fighter was connected to the criminal network that Antoine had been fighting throughout his investigation. The killing occurred after Antoine uncovered the conspiracy involving Charles and Wagner, who then arranged for him to be silenced before he could expose the truth publicly.

Foreshadowing: Antoine's victory at Marcus's fighting den created an enemy within the criminal underworld that would later be leveraged against him.

• antoine cerda killed
• fighter
• marcus den
• murder

Charles Balestra and Wagner, high-ranking officers within the police force, orchestrated the entire cover-up. They had diverted the stolen money from Mahmoudi's network for themselves and used their positions to silence anyone who discovered the truth. They manipulated the squad, ordered Sami to eliminate threats, and ultimately arranged for Antoine's murder when he got too close to exposing their corruption.

Foreshadowing: Their early warnings to Antoine to stay away from the case hinted at their deep involvement in protecting the conspiracy.

• charles
• wagner
• conspiracy
• corruption
• cover-up
• stolen money

Mahmoudi arrived at Sami's house searching for the stolen money, injuring Sami's wife in the process. Antoine intervened, and Charles Balestra arrived and shot Mahmoudi, ending his threat. Sami, already gravely wounded during the confrontation and knowing he would face justice for his crimes including the murders of Richard and Sofia, chose to take his own life rather than be arrested.

Foreshadowing: Sami's earlier wavering leadership and desperate choices had led him to a point of no return.

• mahmoudi death
• sami suicide
• final confrontation
• cover-up

After Antoine's murder, the department publicly promoted him to police commissioner posthumously, creating a narrative of heroism. The official version blamed Mahmoudi for all the murders, claiming he was killed during a police encounter. This preserved the department's reputation while burying the truth about the corruption, the conspiracy between Charles and Wagner, and the institutional rot that had consumed the force.

Foreshadowing: The cover-up mirrored the systemic corruption that had defined the entire investigation from the beginning.

• cover-up
• official narrative
• mahmoudi blamed
• corruption hidden