A 15-year-old boy died on New Year's Eve in Strasbourg after being hit by a car that fled, we learned from police sources on Wednesday.
The events occurred around 1 a.m. in the night, a police source told AFP. The victim was initially transported to hospital with a life-threatening prognosis, then he later died, added this source.
The accident took place in the Cité de l'Ill district, the prefecture told AFP. This is a sensitive district in the north of Strasbourg.
The driver of the vehicle fled, reported another police source.
The investigation is continuing, said a judicial source.
“I send my condolences to the loved ones of the young man who died in the night. All light must be shed on the circumstances of this tragedy, and everything possible must be done to find its perpetrator,” declared the mayor of Strasbourg, Jeanne Barseghian, in a press release.
“The unrest that persists every New Year’s Eve continues to challenge us,” continued the councilor. “Despite preventive measures (…) some continue to sow trouble, in particular by setting fire to vehicles, or by confronting the police and firefighters. This violence is unacceptable,” she said. added.
The system of “nearly 2,400 police officers, gendarmes, firefighters and soldiers from the Sentinel force” mobilized for the night made it possible to “contain the violence” with “a stability in the number of vehicles burned compared to last year, with a slight decrease in the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg,” said the prefecture in a press release.
Fifty-one people were arrested during the night, including 22 minors, she added, “a figure up significantly compared to last year” when 28 people were arrested, half of whom were minors. .
Around fifteen people were also injured “due to the use of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices”, as well as a gendarme, “slightly injured following a mortar shot”.
Around ten residential fires were also “caused by irresponsible behavior linked to urban violence”, according to the prefecture.
In recent days, as the New Year approaches, incidents have been recorded in several sensitive areas of Strasbourg and “around forty arrests” had already taken place in the Alsatian city following vehicle damage and trash fires. but also urban violence, recalled the prefect.
