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“Violent hostilities” against the police in a small town in Brittany. Deputy Florian Bachelier from the region spoke of a “shame for our country.
In western France, an illegal New Year’s Eve party with around 2,500 participants got completely out of hand: despite Corona requirements and curfew, ravers from different regions of France and abroad celebrated in a small town of Brittany. The police that intervened were violently attacked and evicted, and the techno party continued on Friday night. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin called a special meeting on the situation.
When police wanted to break up the illegal party in an empty warehouse in Lieuron south of Rennes on Thursday evening, they faced “violent hostility”, as the prefecture of the Ille-et-Vilaine department in Brittany announced on Friday. During the riots, a police vehicle was set on fire and three others were damaged. Bottles and stones were thrown, officials were slightly injured.
Police were stationed at intersections near the party Friday night and kept newly arrived partygoers out of the entrance, a witness observed. According to the gendarmerie, those who left the premises were “systematically” checked and more than 200 tickets were distributed. A helicopter had also flown over the area during the day.
“A disgrace to our country”
Helpers distributed disinfectant gel and masks to contain the risk of spreading the coronavirus. One raver reported that the party should last until Saturday; others even went as of Tuesday. Deputy Florian Bachelier from the region spoke of a “shame for our country.
The prosecution opened an investigation into the violent clashes. Interior Minister Darmanin wanted to hold a meeting on Friday night in Paris on how to restore a “normal situation”, as he wrote on the Twitter online service.
Night curfew
A massive increase in corona infections is feared in France. On Friday, the number of new infections in 24 hours was again around 20,000. Now the nightly curfew imposed to contain the coronavirus in France, which was also applied on New Year’s Eve, will begin in particularly affected areas from Saturday at 6 p.m. and not at 8 p.m. The curfew until 6 a.m. applies in 15 regions of France.
“The virus continues to spread in France,” government spokesman Gabriel Attal said in Paris. A possible reopening of theaters, cinemas and concert halls originally planned for January 7 is out of the question.
The government spokesman also rejected criticism of delays in vaccinations against the corona virus. When told that only a good 330 vaccinations had been done, he replied that a vaccination campaign designed for six months could not be evaluated after “a few days.”
(APA / AFP)
