France marks New Year with violence, mass car fires

New Year’s Eve celebrations in France turned violent as police across the country scrambled to contain acts of vandalism, assaults, and fires. 

In Paris alone, authorities detained 125 people for offences ranging from intentional violence to drug possession, Caliber.Az reports, citing Le Figaro.

Among those arrested, 33 were accused of deliberate attacks, 15 of participating in group violence or property damage, 10 of possessing psychotropic substances, and 8 of drug use. 

Additional arrests included individuals carrying explosives and those with existing warrants. The detainees ranged in age from 17 to 53. 

Paris police emphasised that no vehicles or public infrastructure were set on fire within the capital itself.

Meanwhile, the scale of destruction outside the capital was staggering. Across France, more than 800 cars were torched during New Year’s celebrations, with the highest numbers reported in Strasbourg (117 vehicles) and Lyon (82 vehicles). 

Other affected areas included Gironde, Val-d’Oise, and Nord, with dozens of cars burned, alongside incidents of burned construction barriers and rubbish bins. Fireworks injuries were also reported, including a 12-year-old child in Seine-et-Marne. 

Authorities deployed 90,000 police and gendarmes nationwide, with roughly 10,000 stationed in Paris and nearby suburbs. Some officers faced attacks during the night, notably in Nîmes and Nanterre, as the government vowed strict action against lawbreakers.

By Jeyhun Aghazada