Sunday, June 15, 2008

France: New riots

*updated*

I could not find this on English language news sites.

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Riots broke out between police and several dozens youth in Vitry-le-François in the north of France Saturday night. There were nine injured - two firemen, two police agents and five civilians. Sixty cars were set aflame.

Fire department and police vehicles were attacked. The rioters were armed with baseball clubs and threw Molotov cocktails.

The reason for the riots was the death of a youth in his 20s at about 11:30pm Saturday night. The youth was shot dead, a suspect was later arrested.

The police managed to restore order by Sunday morning.

Sources: Nieuwsblad (Dutch), Sydsvenskan (Swedish)

Update:

Apparently the riots started when a youth (22) was murdered. Other youths in the neighborhood mobilized to find the killer and take revenge. The police arrested/rescued the shooter (23) at about 1:20 AM, but the riots continues.

A silent vigil was held Sunday afternoon in memory of the murdered man. His mother, weeping and carrying a photograph of her son led about 300 people, residents and relatives.

Some of the participants recited prayers, palms stretched upwards.


Ayet Yaya (23), a close relative, said that the victim was going to marry this year. He leaves a mother, and younger brother and sister.

Sources: Le Parisien, Romandie, AFP (French)


Update 2:


According to the murder suspect the shooting was drug related. He had a dispute regarding several thousand euros with the gang to whom the victim, Mohammed, belonged. Since he felt threatened, the suspect, a former soldier, showed up to this meeting with a rifle. After the murder he hid by his parents, then at another apartment, before finally going to the police.

The rioters who were looking for him, took out their anger at anything that stood in their path, including cars, a railway station and a housing office.

The family rejects the idea that Mohammed was involved in gangs or drug trafficking. According to them, he had tried to separate two people fighting when he was shot.

The family has called for calm.

Source: Le Figaro, Le Monde (French)