The Minister of the Interior announced that the number of cars burnt down by 20% compared to last year. He also hailed an evening on the Champs-Élysées which went “as best as possible”.
Gérald Darmanin welcomed, this Sunday on the sidelines of a two-day trip to Mayotte, a New Year’s Eve night without “notable incident” in France. He wanted to thank the more than 90,000 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters mobilized on the territory.
The Minister of the Interior announced that there had been nearly 500 arrests during this transition to the new year. A figure up 11% compared to last year, due to “firmness instructions” according to the Minister of the Interior. He adds that there were 20% fewer cars burned.
• An “extremely quiet night” in Strasbourg
In Strasbourg, a city often very scrutinized on the first day of the year because affected each year by numerous vehicle fires, the police welcomed BFM Alsace to an “extremely calm night”. About sixty vehicles were burned, for the same number of arrests, “especially minors for various offences”, specifies a police source.
• “A good state of mind” in Marseille
According to the police headquarters, overall the evening was rather calm in the Marseille city. “Overall, a festive evening and a good state of mind”, she specifies with BFM Marseille Provence.
However, some incidents of urban violence have been recorded in several neighborhoods or surrounding municipalities. In several districts, police forces or firefighters were targeted, particularly by mortar fire.
In addition, around thirty individuals fired mortars towards the Baumettes prison. At least seven arrests for violence and degradation took place.
A 26-year-old man was also seriously injured in a shootout overnight from Saturday to Sunday in the city’s 14th arrondissement. His vital prognosis is engaged and a dozen casings were found near his vehicle. Another car was quickly intercepted by the police, and the three occupants, men aged 20 to 22 of Belgian nationality, were arrested. A large sum of money was seized.
• About forty vehicles burned in Lyon
During this New Year’s Eve in Lyon, the firefighters and the police had to intervene to extinguish around forty burnt vehicles and made six arrests for mortar fire and for the use of rockets.
Despite everything, the prefecture speaks of a rather calm evening. In any case, much calmer than last year when 82 car fires were recorded during the previous New Year’s Eve.
• 5 arrests in Nice
In Nice, five arrests took place, in particular for garbage can fires and vehicle fires. The police note incidents in all sectors of the city. As for other metropolises, the police tell BFMTV that this New Year was “quieter than in previous years”.
• “Nothing notable” in Paris
The police headquarters are pleased with the management of a large crowd with more than a million people on the Champs-Élysées and many more throughout the capital. She notes “nothing notable” or salient events in Paris and the crowns.
