‘Worst night’ of rioting in France

France has seen its worst night of violence since rioting broke out last week, with nearly 400 arrests made last night alone.

The rioting, which has now taken place for 11 consecutive nights, began on October 27 after two youths, believed to be of African origin, were electrocuted in a power sub-station, in the poor Parisian suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, allegedly after fleeing from police.

Violence initially spread throughout the French capital, but has now erupted across the country, with violent outbreaks reported in Dijon, Marseille, Lille, Nice and Strasbourg.

It is thought that the violence has been exacerbated by disdain for French authority by youths, mainly from African and Arab communities, who are angry at high unemployment, poor housing and discrimination.

Last night, over 1,400 vehicles were burnt across the country and police arrested 395 people – the highest toll since the rioting began.

Around 36 police officers are understood to have been injured in the rioting. Ten officers are believed to have been injured – two seriously – when shots were fired in the southern suburb of Grigny.

In Toulouse, police had to use tear gas to push back rioters, while churches were torched in northern Lens and southern Sete.

On Monday, it was reported that a man apparently beaten during rioting last week has died in hospital. Jean-Jacques Le Chenadec, 61, was attacked as he and a neighbour inspected damage to bins near their apartment block last week.

It has been reported that a curfew has been imposed in the Paris suburb of Raincy tonight - the first to be introduced since the rioting began.

Muslim leaders in France have issued a fatwa, forbidding Muslims from taking part in the violence. The Union for Islamic Organisations of France said in a statement that Muslims were forbidden from taking part in “any action that strikes blindly at private or public property or that could threaten the lives of others.”

French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy has attracted much criticism over the violence. It is widely believed that comments he made, referring to troublemakers as “scum” has fuelled tensions.

However, French President Jacques Chirac has also been criticised by opposition MPs for not speaking out on the riots earlier.

M Chirac made his first public address on the violence on Sunday, following an emergency meeting of security ministers. He said: “The law must have the last word,” and added that France was determined “to be stronger than those who want to sow violence or fear.” He said that those engaged in the rioting would be “arrested, judged and punished.”

French Prime Minister Dominique Villepin has pledged to toughen security measures, as well as accelerate trials for those arrested during the rioting.

(KMcA/SP)