French police make hundreds of arrests, respond to violence on New Year’s Eve

As the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2024, into January 1, 2025, France saw a surge in violence and destruction across the nation, with police making hundreds of arrests amid widespread incidents of vandalism and violent clashes.

In a concerted effort to maintain order, around 90,000 police officers and gendarmes were deployed across the country. Despite these efforts, a troubling series of events unfolded throughout the night. According to the Ministry of the Interior, 984 vehicles were set on fire, 420 people were arrested, and 310 were placed in police custody during the New Year's Eve celebrations, Caliber.Az reports via French media.

Bruno Retailleau, the Minister of the Interior, emphasized the widespread use of fireworks, targeting both private property and law enforcement, resulting in multiple injuries. Among the victims, a two-year-old child in Lyon suffered severe facial injuries and is at risk of permanent disability. In Thonon-les-Bains, a person sustained critical injuries after mishandling a firework, while in Lormont (Gironde), an apartment was destroyed by a fire sparked by a firework.

The violence was not limited to attacks on property; some of the arrests were directly linked to assaults on law enforcement officers. Retailleau condemned the acts as "the product of a savage society" and called for a judicial response that matches the severity of the violence.

“These acts of violence are the result of a savage society represented by cowards, thugs who target the property of ordinary French citizens, often those who cannot afford to protect their vehicles in private parking lots,” Retailleau stated, further stressing the need for justice to be served.

The scale of violence marked a stark contrast to the previous year. In 2023, then-Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin had praised a New Year’s Eve without significant incidents, with 690 vehicles burned and 490 arrests made. This year’s figures paint a more troubling picture, underscoring ongoing challenges in maintaining public order during holiday celebrations.

By Vugar Khalilov