French riots: Amiens buildings torched in clashes

French firemen inspect damage inside a leisure centre on Tuesday after overnight clashes in Amiens, northern France

Buildings and cars were torched overnight as youths and police clashed in the northern French city of Amiens, say officials and police.

Sixteen police officers were injured in the clashes with up to 100 youths, some of whom threw fireworks, large-sized shot and projectiles, say police.

Reports suggest the unrest may have been triggered after police arrested a man for dangerous driving.

President Francois Hollande has vowed to restore order.

“Interior Minister Manuel Valls will go to Amiens immediately… to say there once again that the state will mobilise all its resources to combat this violence,” he said.

“Our priority is security which means that the next budget will include additional resources for the gendarmerie and the police,” Mr Hollande said.

A leisure centre, school and cars were burned overnight on Monday amid the unrest in the rundown district of Amiens, reports said.

This district of Amiens had reportedly already been earmarked for extra security spending after it was identified as among the 15 most troubled areas in France by the government earlier this month.

In 2005, the deaths of two teenagers sparked weeks of looting and car-burning in housing estates across France.

 

BBC has the full article

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