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.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
By chance, and I’m just asking here, are these unnamed youths Muslim and from Africa?
AH yes those crazy Islamicist where is islamic rage boy LOL!
yoots ?
There’s a new sheriff in town. This should get interesting.
Damned country-clubbers...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I wondered the same thing - whether the boys (and rioters) were Muslim. Muslims are more likely than Europeans to express their displeasure through rioting.
Cue Sinead O’Connor /semiobscure
Maybe they were suicide bombers on wheels /s
Reading this article, the “youths” could be Laplanders...
Fine.
Pick up the riotoise - take ‘em to the Place de la Concorde - show ‘em how a real beheading is done.
France mush have very different standards for electricity distribution, in the US this would be a very quick way to get nominated for a Darwin award.
He is being tested here. His response here will set the tone for the rest of his administration
Could be.
BTW, The Laplanders are in fact Sami and they don't like to be call Laplanders.
I just found out this summer that my mtDNA is 'V' which is Sami. (A Skolt Sami)
(See, you learn something on FR when you're not even trying)
Go get ‘em, Sarko! He didn’t cave to the “workers,” and now he *immediately* has an opportunity to show the “youths” his stuff.
Dang, this is great TV!
Here we go again.
[cue the cast of “Fiddler on the Roof”—”Tradition”]
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