420 arrests and 984 vehicles burned, a toll “too heavy”, according to Bruno Retailleau

Nearly 1,000 vehicles were set on fire and more than 400 people were arrested in France on New Year's Eve, it was reported on Wednesday 1^is January, the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, on the social network

“We do not have the right to settle for this annual count, which is always too heavy”writes the minister. “This violence is the product of wildness”he adds, denouncing “cowards, thugs who attack the property of often modest French people, who do not have the means to protect their vehicles in private parking lots”.

In total, according to the minister, there was “984 vehicles burned”, “420 arrests” et “310 police custody”particularly after firework mortar shots targeting the police.

More than 90,000 police and gendarmes mobilized

“More than 90,000 police officers and gendarmes” were mobilized for this New Year's Eve night during which many “numerous uses of mortars have been noted”deplores the minister, who cites the case of a 2-year-old child injured in the face by a mortar shot in Lyon.

Faced with this “gratuitous and endemic violence”, “the security response is essential”more “cannot be sufficient”he continues, calling for a “judicial response (…) up to par ». “On this point, I welcome the first statements from the Keeper of the Seals”Gérald Darmanin, writes Bruno Retailleau. “With Gérald Darmanin, today we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to finally begin, together, the battle against impunity”he said again.

Last year, 380 arrests and 745 vehicles burned were counted during the night of December 31 to 1^is January.