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| French city of Amiens rocked by riots | French city of Amiens rocked by riots |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Violent clashes between youths and riot police in the northern French city of Amiens saw 17 officers injured and several public buildings set on fire in some of the worst rioting in the area for years – reopening the political debate about France's troubled housing estates. | Violent clashes between youths and riot police in the northern French city of Amiens saw 17 officers injured and several public buildings set on fire in some of the worst rioting in the area for years – reopening the political debate about France's troubled housing estates. |
| Rioting broke out on deprived estates in the north of the city at 9pm on Monday and continued until 4am. About 100 youths set fire to cars, a nursery school and a youth centre as well as firing buckshot and throwing projectiles at police officers, who filled the streets with teargas as reinforcements arrived from neighbouring areas. | Rioting broke out on deprived estates in the north of the city at 9pm on Monday and continued until 4am. About 100 youths set fire to cars, a nursery school and a youth centre as well as firing buckshot and throwing projectiles at police officers, who filled the streets with teargas as reinforcements arrived from neighbouring areas. |
| "The confrontations were very, very violent," the mayor of Amiens, Gilles Dumailly, told French television network BFM, describing "a scene of devastation". One officer was in a serious condition, Dumailly said. | "The confrontations were very, very violent," the mayor of Amiens, Gilles Dumailly, told French television network BFM, describing "a scene of devastation". One officer was in a serious condition, Dumailly said. |
| There had been unrest among youths on housing estates in Amiens-Nord earlier this month and again on Sunday night, apparently triggered by resentment over spot checks by police on residents. | There had been unrest among youths on housing estates in Amiens-Nord earlier this month and again on Sunday night, apparently triggered by resentment over spot checks by police on residents. |
| The French media reported that violence broke out between local residents and the police following a check on a driver said to be driving dangerously, near to the spot where the family and friends of a 20-year-old who died in a motorbike crash on Thursday had gathered for a memorial ceremony. | The French media reported that violence broke out between local residents and the police following a check on a driver said to be driving dangerously, near to the spot where the family and friends of a 20-year-old who died in a motorbike crash on Thursday had gathered for a memorial ceremony. |
| As the unrest grew police fired teargas and rubber bullet rounds, which some residents considered excessive. | As the unrest grew police fired teargas and rubber bullet rounds, which some residents considered excessive. |
| The poor relationship between police and local youths has often been the source of conflict on housing estates across France. The northern area of Amiens in the Somme is classed among the 15 most troubled neighbourhoods in France. It was recently included in a list of the government's "priority security zones", which will get a reinforced police presence. | The poor relationship between police and local youths has often been the source of conflict on housing estates across France. The northern area of Amiens in the Somme is classed among the 15 most troubled neighbourhoods in France. It was recently included in a list of the government's "priority security zones", which will get a reinforced police presence. |
| There were riots in Amiens during the nationwide disturbances in 2005 across France's housing estates. The city has often experienced unrest, but the prefect's office said there had never been violence "as serious as this". | There were riots in Amiens during the nationwide disturbances in 2005 across France's housing estates. The city has often experienced unrest, but the prefect's office said there had never been violence "as serious as this". |
| Public buildings including a nursery school and sports centre were destroyed by fire, causing an estimated €1m (£800,000) in damage. | Public buildings including a nursery school and sports centre were destroyed by fire, causing an estimated €1m (£800,000) in damage. |
| A group of about 100 young men jeered and jostled the French interior minister on Tuesday when he met officials in Amiens. | A group of about 100 young men jeered and jostled the French interior minister on Tuesday when he met officials in Amiens. |
| "Calm down! Calm down!" Manuel Valls yelled as the crowd bumped him while he entered the town hall surrounded by bodyguards. | "Calm down! Calm down!" Manuel Valls yelled as the crowd bumped him while he entered the town hall surrounded by bodyguards. |
| He told a news conference inside that a minority of people were terrorising the community. "Firearms! Can it be considered normal that people turn firearms on police? It's unacceptable ... law and order must be restored," Valls said. | He told a news conference inside that a minority of people were terrorising the community. "Firearms! Can it be considered normal that people turn firearms on police? It's unacceptable ... law and order must be restored," Valls said. |
| The president, François Hollande, said: "Our priority is security, which means that the next budget will include additional resources for the gendarmerie and the police." | The president, François Hollande, said: "Our priority is security, which means that the next budget will include additional resources for the gendarmerie and the police." |
| The far-right Front National party immediately seized on the unrest in the rundown neighbourhood to link insecurity in France to the issue of "massive immigration". | The far-right Front National party immediately seized on the unrest in the rundown neighbourhood to link insecurity in France to the issue of "massive immigration". |
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