France sends police reinforcements to Dijon to quell unrest

French government sent police reinforcements and a top official to Dijon region to quell four nights of unusually violent clashes between rival groups that have left at least 10 injured and cars burned and rattled community.

reasons for unrest are under investigation, but local officials say it appears linked to drug tre and tensions between members of France’s Chechen community and or groups.

Similar clashes erupted in Mediterranean city of Nice in recent days, which mayor attributed to tensions over drug territory between local Chechen residents and ir rivals. Four people were reported injured re.

unrest in Dijon’s Gresilles neighbourhood began last week after a teenr from France’s Chechen community was attacked by local drug dealers, according to local brocaster France Bleu. Members of Chechen community called on social networks for revenge, and fighting broke out Friday.

After tensions continued through weekend, interior minister ordered police reinforcements to area and anunced Monday that government would take over manment of situation.

Ims from BFM television showed two cars and several garb cans on fire Monday, black smoke rising over a leafy neighbourhood of low-rise apartment buildings. Young people wearing hoods and masks carried metal bars or bats as y roamed area, and a makeshift gasoline bomb in a plastic bottle lay on pavement.

A police helicopter circled overhe, and a dozen police vans lined a nearby street as firefighters sought to douse scattered blazes. People looking out from nearby balconies covered ir mouths from smoke.

Unidentified local residents told BFM y felt abandoned by police as violence rd over weekend. local prefect, top government official for area, insisted in a statement that “police guaranteed respect of public order in a complex situation” as y tried to cool tempers and contain violence.

After government sent reinforcements, junior minister Laurent Nunez visited area Tuesday and praised local police for ir efforts.

local ministration says at least 10 people have been injured so far.

Graffiti on a nearby shopfront re “Long Live Putin,” in reference to Russian President Vlimir Putin, whose military fought Chechen militants in two wars in 1990s and early 2000s. France offered asylum to many Chechens at time, and re are w Chechen communities scattered around France.

unrest comes amid tensions between French police and government. Amid protests around France over racial injustice and police brutality, government said last week it would ban police from using chokeholds to subdue people. But government-backed down Monday after police mselves protested. France is experimenting with expanding use of stun guns as a potential alternative.

(Representative Im)(Im Credit Pixabay)