The French government has struggled to quell rioting and looting since 17-year-old Nahel M was shot and killed by a police officer for a traffic violation last Tuesday, sparking long-standing allegations of racism in the country's security forces.
Mayors hold a rally calling for an end to riots in L'Hay-les-Roses near Paris, France on July 3, 2023. Photo: Reuters
Riots subside
Monday's rallies called for a "restore of order" and came after a mayor's home in a Paris suburb was rammed by a burning car, sparking widespread outrage.
"Democracy itself has been attacked... this cannot continue and will not happen," said Vincent Jeanbrun, mayor of L'Hay-les-Roses, whose home was attacked early Sunday morning.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said the deployment of 45,000 police and gendarmes would remain in place on Monday and Tuesday evening. “The priority is to restore order,” she said.
President Emmanuel Macron visited a police barracks in Paris' 17th arrondissement on Monday evening, "showing his support" in his first trip to the scene since the riots broke out.
Authorities said riots across France had dropped sharply, with just 11 arrests in Paris and its suburbs on Monday. Only 157 people were arrested between Sunday and Monday.
A total of about 3,900 people have been arrested since Friday, including 1,244 minors, the French Justice Ministry said. All bus and tram services in the Paris region remained suspended after 9 p.m.
However, in a move that could spark fresh anger, donations to the family of the police officer who opened fire in the incident - now charged with manslaughter - have reached €1m.
Heavy losses
The French government has now allocated tens of millions of euros to urgently support the repair of public buildings and small businesses around Paris and in two other regions.
The town hall in Persan, near Paris, France, was damaged after being attacked by rioters. Photo: Reuters
The riots caused about 20 million euros in damage to public transport in Paris alone, French officials said on Monday, including dozens of burned buses and a burned tram line.
Business association Medef meanwhile estimated damage of "more than a billion euros" to companies, with more than 200 businesses looted and 300 bank offices destroyed.
The riots have also caused a new crisis for President Emmanuel Macron, who has had to deal with several large protests during his tenure. He is expected to meet the mayors of more than 220 towns affected by the riots today.
Bui Huy (according to AFP, Reuters)
Source
Comment (0)