The Bouches-du-Rhône police chief on Friday banned any demonstrations in the center of Marseille after a night halted by incidents in Marseille following a rally in memory of Nahal, who was killed by a policeman in Nanterre.
Marseilles, June 30, 2023.
Nicolas Ducat/AFP
After a meeting with Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis, Metropolitan Transport Network (RTM) and Aix-Marseille-Provence Metropolis representative Benoît Payon, Prefect Frédérique Camilleri announced the suspension of all public transport networks in Marseille from 7:00 p.m. Business associations.
Port and transportation of firecrackers or “any object that can be used as a target weapon” will be prohibited under the order, the police headquarters said. The governor had earlier announced on Twitter from Friday afternoon strengthened restrictions and “heavier” patrols throughout the evening to prevent or end new incidents.
“This night (Thursday to Friday) there was an absolutely unacceptable overflow and violence”, condemned the mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan on Friday morning, 156 garbage fires, “dozens of damaged businesses, some vandalized and looted” and 14 burned cars.
The incidents lasted part of the night from Thursday to Friday and pitted some mobile groups of youth against the police. Concentrated in the center of Marseille, rather than in many other parts of the city, they injured 38 police officers, some of whom were hospitalized, and arrested 56 others.
Many shops in the city center bore signs of Friday morning’s clashes, and some were visibly looted, particularly on rue Saint-Ferréol, a large pedestrian shopping street near the old port, an AFP journalist noted.
The glass facade of the city’s largest Alcázar library, located in the central district of Belção, was also damaged and covered with wooden boards.
“The country is experiencing a very strong wave of violence and this morning (Friday) we must call for unity and peace. Justice must now pass and pass swiftly to “calm the spirits” after the Nanterre drama, an indescribable drama that has caused fear, astonishment and incomprehension ( …), Mr. .Payan, was elected in 2020 as the leader of a majority Left Union.
“I invite everyone to solidarity, Marseille is a city of brotherhood, I want its message to be heard, to be an example in Marseille”, continued the elected official, and announced the establishment of an exceptional fund to help the affected businessmen. Conflicts.
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