Posted on 11/25/2007 6:24:12 PM PST by blam
Boys' moped deaths ignite riot in Paris suburb
By Peter Allen in Paris
Last Updated: 1:59am GMT 26/11/2007
Rioting broke in one of Paris's tinder box suburban housing estates last night after two young boys were killed when their moped collided with a police car.
The scenes are reminiscent of the disturbances in 2005 which led to two months of serious rioting across much of France
Molotov cocktails were thrown, and cars and plastic bins set on fire following the tragedy in Tolinette, a notoriously crime-ridden district of Villiers-le-Bel, some 20 miles north of the centre of the French capital.
One police station was set alight and another, in a neighbouring suburb, was ransacked after youths threw cocktails, and set bins alight and upturned cars.
Officials said seven police and one firefighter had were injured and there were fears the violence, which spread to the neighbouring town of Arnouville-les-Gonesse, could also take hold in other poor, suburban enclaves.
The boys who died were said by locals to be "aged between 12 and 13".
Police insisted that their car had not been chasing the boys, and that the officer driving suffered facial injuries in the incident, which happened soon after dusk.
But the violence had grim echoes of the disturbances which followed the electrocution of two youths in a sub-station as they fled police in the nearby suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois in late 2005. It directly led to two months of serious rioting across France, with a state of emergency being declared.
After last night's deaths, residents in Tolinette said cars were being burnt out, with police fleeing the scene.
One local, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "Around 100 rioters have burn at least two cars, but the forces of law and order are nowhere to be seen.
"There were four police cars here, but they've retreated. They were charged by the rioters. Some rioters are climbing up to electric cables to try and break them and put the whole district into darkness.
"The kids who died were only aged between 12 and 13. We're all trying to get the rioters to calm down, but it's hard when you're dealing with the deaths of a couple of kids, and when the police are involved."
A police spokesman later confirmed the boys' deaths, saying that next of kin would be informed before they could be named.
Police insisted that their car had not been chasing the boys
He confirmed that, as well as the police driver, a superintendent had been badly injured as he tried to put out fires started by youths in rubbish bins.
The officer also confirmed that Molotov cocktails - makeshift bombs made of bottles, petrol and an old rag for a fuse - had also been used.
"The situation is extremely tense - we are trying to contain the trouble," the spokesman added.
The trouble in 2005 was largely blamed on immigrant youths living in suburban housing projects who complained about discrimination and lack of employment opportunities.
Nicolas Sarkozy, who is now president, built up a ruthless reputation as Interior Minister for using tough policing and longer prison sentences to crack down on the trouble.
You want tradition?
see #14
Paris is burning again...
- Home Alone
I knew you show up on this riot
He also show up during rioting LOLOLOL!
Now that funny LOLOLOL!
Well, really, this seems to be becoming a habit. Who do these kids think they are? Raider Fan?
Don’t compare this to Raider fan
Raider fan has class
Islamicists don’t have class
We just riot when our team win something
LOL!
I skimmed this article and since I didn’t notice any ID of the “yutes,” I assumed they were a couple of errant caucasian Gallic yutes. Is that not correct?
Thank you for the education. Are you related to Sami Davis Jr,?
Too funny. The reader is inclined to beleive that French youths, are just plain crazy. To not mention the muslim connection, makes the story somewhat “incomplete”. This kind of incomplete reporting is very common in W Europe, even worse than here. That has actually made people very fed up, and voted these new govts into power.
hey, glad to see you’re still here! I remember you from way back when. even pre-lewinsky even.
Deport these yoots and the useless parents that bred them. Deport the whole damn family back to Algeria or what have you
Deport these yoots and the useless parents that bred them. Deport the whole damn family back to Algeria or what have you
Categorically, monsieur, "Non!"
They are not Muslim and from Africa; their parents are from Africa, and they just coincidentally practice Islam.
And it is wrong for Westerners to call this 'rioting' or other prejudicial and pejorative terms; it is just a carefree celebration of the Islamic year-end Festival of Lights.
Please do not blame these youths for the fact that, when he cribbed it, Mohammed (Pork Be Upon Him) slightly misunderstood the concept.
Sarkozy better start building lots of prison space. They’re going to need it...
Why on earth would police go into a place like that in the first place?
Are there Amish in France?
(See, you learn something on FR when you're not even trying... Mark II.)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.