The French central government has deployed 45,000 police officers in riot gear and with armored cars to stop the violence. Across the country, police were mobilized to stop angry protesters after a police officer shot and killed a 17-year-old in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday. An armored vehicle belonging to the riot police is deployed in Nanterre just east of the center of the French capital. Photo: Lewis Joly / AP Looted gun shop Despite the large police effort, looting has been reported in Lyon, Marseille and Grenoble, where hooded gangs raided shops. Protesters have also set fire to cars, at least one bus and many rubbish bins. In Marseille, angry protesters broke into and looted a weapons store, reports Reuters. According to the police, the protesters brought several rifles, but they are said to have brought no ammunition. – The looting and violence we are seeing is unacceptable, said Marseille mayor Benoît Payan to the AFP news agency. A looted store in Lyon. Photo: JEFF PACHOUD / AFP 470 arrested last night Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin informs the newspaper Le Monde that 471 people have been arrested during the evening and night. Over 80 of the arrests took place in Marseille. There are significantly fewer than the more than 900 who were arrested the night before. Darmanin expressed relief that the riots were “less intense”. He promised that the country’s mayors will get the police reinforcements they are asking for. Earlier in the evening, police cleared the Place de la Concorde at the bottom of Paris’ Champs-Élysées parade boulevard, where many had gathered in protest. Protesters at the Place det la Concorde right by the French presidential palace. Photo: Yves Herman / Reuters Norwegian family with children frightened by the riots Bjørn Christian Nørbech, who is on holiday in Paris with his family, ended up in the middle of the drama when demonstrators and the police stood together right outside the hotel where they were staying. The family of four decided to cancel the dinner and go back to the hotel when they heard five explosions, saw burning trash cans and witnessed large numbers of running protesters and police officers in the street. Video: BJØRN CHRISTIAN NØRBECH The Nørbech family in front of the Eiffel Tower before the violence broke out. Photo: private – For the children aged 3 and 11, it is terrifying and they are a bit scared, says Nørbech to news. He says they had heard about the demonstrations, but that they were surprised that it had spread all the way to the heart of Paris. The hotel of the family from Son is located right next to the Louvre in the center of the city. The Nørbech family are in town until Sunday, and hope that the situation on Saturday has calmed down enough that they can take a planned trip to Versailles. Heavily armed riot police are visible everywhere in the streets of Nanterre. Photo: AP Demonstrator dies in fall in Rouen A young man died when he fell from the roof of a building in the northern French city of Rouen on Friday during a demonstration against the police. The man fell from the roof of a supermarket in the suburb of Petit-Quevilly. Unconfirmed information suggests that the accident occurred when the store was attempted to be looted, writes Reuters. In the neighboring country of Belgium, there have also been extensive protests. Over 100 have been arrested in the capital Brussels on the night of Saturday, according to French media. Prohibits the sale of fireworks In addition to increasing the police presence, several other measures were implemented to prevent demonstrations on the night of Saturday. The sale of fireworks is prohibited. All public transport by bus and tram was stopped from 21. Among the events that have been canceled in France this weekend, is the pride parade in Marseille.
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At least 470 arrested in new unrest in France – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
