French Cops Gas Heroes (Hint: They weren't gassing fellow Frenchmen)

The Sun [UK] ^ | June 9, 2003 | David Wooding

[quidnunc]

British war heroes on a religious pilgrimage told last night of their shock when French police attacked them with tear gas in a hotel bar.

Scores of servicemen and their guests — some in wheelchairs — were stunned as 30 cops threw three gas canisters at them in the town of Lourdes, renowned for miracle cures.

One member of the official delegation of Catholic soldiers said: “All hell broke loose. People ran out coughing and choking. Some braved the fumes to help those in wheelchairs get out.

“They were in a terrible state afterwards. It all happened without a single word of warning.”

Police chiefs in Lourdes — visited by hundreds of thousands each year for its healing waters — said the 2am incident happened because the pilgrims were breaking a local by-law that bans late-night boozing.

But one soldier said: “Nobody told us to go to bed or keep the noise down. One minute everyone was having a convivial time and the next we were under attack.

“The whole episode was a disgrace. We were on a religious pilgrimage, yet we were treated like football hooligans.”

David Kelly, chaplain of the Royal Military College at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, added: “There was no reason for this sudden onslaught.

“Everyone was celebrating the end of a very special trip when the police burst in and mayhem broke out.”

-snip-

[quidnunc]

Quote:

Lourdes police commissioner Didier Ribeyrolle admitted the use of tear gas was “inappropriate”

But he said: “The hotel showed a lax attitude to our by-laws. Some patrons may have been shocked by the methods used, but the rules must be respected.”

Maybe they ought to apply the same standards to some of the places where young Muslim toughs are holding large sections of French cities hostage.

[Norse]

Those Muslims are hardly "tough." I was fortunate enough to have a fistfight with one. I won.

[McGavin999]

And yet they're spending tons of money trying to convince people to come and visit france. Wait until this story starts going around.

[MattAMiller]

But he said: “The hotel showed a lax attitude to our by-laws. Some patrons may have been shocked by the methods used, but the rules must be respected.”

Ah those subtle minded and sophisticated French.

[quidnunc]

Norse wrote: Those Muslims are hardly "tough." I was fortunate enough to have a fistfight with one. I won.

Evidently they're tough enough because the French gendarmes are reported to be loathe to tackle them.

[gcruse]

Wait until this story starts going around.

Well, it sure brought tears to my eyes...and the Brits too!

[Norse]

Who knows what their problem is. I don't know why they don't defend their nation. It's rather sick, actually. I know quite a few French, most of them great people, and after talking to them, it would appear as if the situation is hopeless. They either want to stay in the United States and leave France altogether or stay in France and live with the problem, not wanting to stir the pot.

[KingNo155]

"young Muslim toughs"
THEIR AFRAID OF GIRLS HOW TOUGH CAN THEY BE.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Spirited]

I wonder what jollies they will get from tours of older people who are on their persona-non list.

[happygrl]

I find this to be unsettling. Somehow I don't think the gerdames would have treated Belgium visitors this way.

I think it's a slap at the British; the UK Ambassador to France should demand an explanation.

This goes beyond mere municipal rule-breaking.

The French ought to remember that they haven't done well in conflicts with Britain.

[dfwgator]

How did the cops gas them, did they fart in their general direction?

[Bonaparte]

"The French ought to remember that they haven't done well in conflicts with Britain."

Which explains why they attacked only cripples and elderly.