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Corsica brawl: Four hurt in clashes on French beach Corsica brawl: Five hurt in clashes on French beach
(about 1 hour later)
A brawl between three families of North African descent and local youths erupted on a beach on the French island of Corsica on Saturday, leaving five people injured, officials have said. A beach brawl on the French island of Corsica between three families of North African descent and local youths has left five people injured and three cars burnt out, regional prosecutors say.
Witnesses said the brawl between locals and a party of bathers of Northern African origin began after the bathers objected to photos being taken. The brawl on Saturday began after the families objected to photos being taken, witnesses say. Stones and bottles were thrown.
Some of those involved were armed with hatchets and harpoons, a witness said. Reports say some of the brawlers were armed with hatchets and harpoons.
The head of the regional executive, Gilles Simeoni, appealed for calm. Unrest continued on Sunday at a protest in the regional capital.
The French interior ministry issued a statement confirming that four people, including a pregnant woman, had received non-life threatening injuries as a result of the brawl. The head of the regional executive, Gilles Simeoni, has appealed for calm.
Investigations had yet to establish the circumstances and motives behind the disorder, the ministry said.
The incident took place on a creek near the village of Sisco, Upper Corsica.The incident took place on a creek near the village of Sisco, Upper Corsica.
Tension has grown this summer between local communities and Muslims of North African origin in the south of France, especially following the massacre of 85 people by a lorry-driver in the city of Nice on 14 July.Tension has grown this summer between local communities and Muslims of North African origin in the south of France, especially following the massacre of 85 people by a lorry-driver in the city of Nice on 14 July.
At the end of last month, an outlawed Corsican paramilitary group said that Islamist militants against targeting their island. At the end of last month, an outlawed Corsican paramilitary group warned Islamist militants against targeting their island.
Earlier this week, the resort town of Cannes controversially banned the wearing of the Islamic bathing costume for women, the burkini.Earlier this week, the resort town of Cannes controversially banned the wearing of the Islamic bathing costume for women, the burkini.
'Hatchets and harpoon''Hatchets and harpoon'
French media report that the trouble began around 18:15 (16:15 GMT) when tourists took photos of women bathing - one report quotes a girl as saying the women were wearing burkinis. Three of the injured have been released from hospital in Bastia and the other two were due to be sent home shortly, prosecutors said in a statement (in French).
According to the newspaper Le Figaro (in French), some of the older men in the bathing party attacked a group of local teenagers on the beach with hatchets. They described the brawl as being of "great violence".
When the teenagers' parents arrived from the village, two of them were injured with harpoons. Villagers allegedly then set alight cars belonging to the bathers. French media report that the trouble began around 18:15 (16:15 GMT) when tourists took photos of women bathing. Reports say the women were wearing burkinis.
Ange Vivoni, mayor of Sisco, told reporters that when a local teenager was stabbed, the victim's "family and all the people of Sisco got together".
According to the newspaper Le Figaro (in French), some of the older men in the bathing party had attacked a group of local teenagers on the beach with hatchets.
When the teenagers' parents arrived from the village, two of them were reportedly injured with harpoons. Villagers allegedly then set alight cars belonging to the bathers.
Another French daily, Le Monde, reports (in French) that one man was injured twice by a harpoon after his son was beaten up. Stones and bottles were also thrown.Another French daily, Le Monde, reports (in French) that one man was injured twice by a harpoon after his son was beaten up. Stones and bottles were also thrown.
Two fathers from among the bathing party were also injured during the brawl, the paper adds.Two fathers from among the bathing party were also injured during the brawl, the paper adds.
According to Le Monde newspaper, three "Muslim families" were involved in the brawl. According to Le Monde newspaper, the three involved in the brawl are all Muslims.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve condemned the violence and also appealed for calm.Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve condemned the violence and also appealed for calm.
On Sunday, hundreds of people held a protest in Bastia, the capital of Upper Corsica. Hundreds of people held a protest in Bastia, heading for a housing estate, where some of those involved in Saturday's brawl are said to live.
According to local newspaper Corse-Matin, the demonstrators gathered outside the prefect's office before heading for a housing estate, where some of those involved in Saturday's brawl were said to live. Riot police could be seen pushing them back and tear gas was reportedly fired when stones were thrown.
Riot police could be seen pushing them back.