???????? Rillieux-La-Pape. Second night of urban violence with buses set on fire, a building evacuated and projectiles fired at the police

For the second night in a row, Rillieux-La-Pape, near Lyon, was the scene of urban violence with buses set on fire and clashes between police and rioters.

According to the prefecture, the incidents broke out around 9 p.m., when “around twenty individuals” attacked two buses from the TCL (Transports en commun Lyonnais) network with throwing stones before setting them on fire.

Clashes and injuries among law enforcement officers

When the police intervened, they were fired upon by projectiles, slightly injuring a police officer in the face. The situation remained tense around 11 p.m., the prefecture said. On site, the prefect delegate for defense and security, Juliette Bossart-Trignat, and the mayor Alexandre Vincendet (Horizons) supervised the operations.

Buildings evacuated and images of damage

Videos posted on social networks show the burning carcasses of the buses, emitting thick black smoke. As a precaution, residents living near the burned buses temporarily evacuated their homes, fearing the spread of the flames, before returning to their homes.

Reinforced reactions and security measures

The TCL network announced a “major incident” and suspended line 33 due to this “malicious act” in Rillieux-La-Pape. Fabienne Buccio, prefect of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, strongly condemned the “criminal violence” via a message on X (formerly Twitter), expressing her support for the TCL agents, the injured police officer and the affected residents.

The prefecture confirmed the immediate deployment of CRS reinforcements, who will remain mobilized throughout the weekend alongside the national and municipal police to reinforce security. The authorities have also launched investigations to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of these acts of violence.

Similar incidents the day before and dissuasive measures

This violence already follows a first night of tensions on Thursday, during which hooded individuals set fire to several vehicles and trash cans. Three young people, all minors, were arrested. The mayor of Rillieux-La-Pape, Alexandre Vincendet, declared on his Facebook page that these young people and their parents risk sanctions, in particular the suspension of optional aid from the municipality and the municipal social action center.

Source: Jean-Marc Morandini