Riots have broken out in Paris amid anger over police ‘heavy-handed’ treatment of ethnic minorities during the coronavirus lockdown.
Police used tear gas and baton charges in Villeneuve-la-Garenne, northern Paris, in the early hours of today as fireworks exploded in the street.
Armed police were seen moving through the area as groups of protesters congregated.
A French journalist, Taha Bouhafs – who caught the action on video – was one of those arrested in the northern Paris. Videos of the trouble posted by Bouhafs, who is from an Algerian background, includes one of him being manhandled by police – leading to allegations of racism.
It comes after a 30-year-old Arab Muslim man was critically injured in the neighbourhood in a collision with an unmarked police car.
As the violence spread to nearby towns, squads of Republican Security Company (CRS) police were drafted in to deal with gangs of youths.
President Emmanuel Macron has extended France’s social distancing measures until May 11.
France daily death toll from the virus fell to the lowest level in three weeks today as 395 deaths were recorded, bringing the total to 19,718, though deaths are typically under-reported over the weekend.
