New Year's Eve was punctuated by certain excesses and acts of violence. In Lyon, a fireworks mortar accident notably injured an infant.
A first assessment after New Year's Eve. Although New Year's Eve generally took place in a festive spirit in France, incidents of violence and accidents were reported.
On Place Bellecour in Lyon, shortly after midnight, a fireworks mortar hit a two-year-old child in the face, BFMTV learned from the police. She was hit in the left eye after a firework landed in her stroller.
The little girl was taken care of by emergency services without her life threatening but with a risk of permanent disability. The origin of the shots remains to be determined. The sector is covered by video protection. No arrests have been made in connection with these facts at this stage.
Stabbings
In Cannes, around 1:15 a.m., a man was injured by a stab. The perpetrator was taken into police custody. The victim's vital prognosis was threatened for a time but is no longer so.
In Clermont-Ferrand, around 9 p.m., a man apparently had a dispute with a group of six to eight individuals near the station. During the altercation, he received several stab wounds. His vital prognosis was threatened for a time but is no longer so.
A team of firefighters was targeted in Cranves-Sales in Haute-Savoie, around 4:30 p.m., Tuesday afternoon. While she was in intervention, she was trapped by a vehicle occupied by two men. The latter fired fireworks at the fire vehicle before fleeing. Three impacts were noted on the vehicle. The firefighters were not injured.
-Chased, the vehicle was finally apprehended by the Gendarmerie surveillance and intervention squad in Saint-Julien-en-Genevois. The occupants of the vehicle, two men aged 19 and 20, were taken into police custody.
Rave party
Several clashes with the police also took place. Particularly in Oise, Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin, where mortar fire has been reported on police vehicles with serious consequences.
Finally, in Aveyron, it was a rave party that attracted the attention of the authorities. In the town of La Couvertoirade, this “festive musical gathering” has attracted around 2,500 participants since Monday evening. The organizer of the gathering is being identified. No overflow has been reported at this stage.
90,000 police officers and gendarmes were mobilized in France for New Year's Eve.
Vincent Vantighem with François Blanchard