Multiple cities in France cancel Bastille day festivities

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Jul 2023 16:23

Among major cities include Toulouse and Lyon which imposed a ban on the transport of weapons, fireworks and other flammable substances in public places.

Alphajets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France release trails of red, white and blue smoke, colors of the French national flag, over the Arc de Triomphe during a rehearsal for the Bastille Day parade on July 11, 2022 in Paris. (AFP)

French media reported on Friday that multiple cities across the country have decided to cancel their yearly fireworks shows on the day of the Bastille celebrated on the fourteenth day of every July.

Despite that the wave of protests across France is cooling down, the cities decided to cancel the holiday after French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin issued instructions regarding the prevention of illegal use of fireworks amid social unrest, the BMFTV broadcaster reported.

Among major cities include Toulouse and Lyon which imposed a ban on the transport of weapons, fireworks and other flammable substances in public places. In the cities of Nimes and Strasbourg, fireworks were canceled due to a high risk of fire that increased with heat and drought in the country, sources said.

According to Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, the situation in Paris has recently become more stable, but law enforcers are still ensuring that security remains in the streets during the holidays.

Government spokesman Olivier Veran said on Thursday that the authorities had no intention of imposing a curfew or other restrictions on the national Bastille Day. However, some restrictions could be lifted for the festivities to take place.

On June 27, Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old of Algerian and Moroccan origin was shot in the chest at point-blank range last week in the western region of Paris after he was pulled over for breaking traffic rules in a yellow Mercedes.

The recent police killing of the youth has reignited deep-seated resentment towards police brutality among various French minority communities. It has also sparked a renewed and contentious discussion about the issue of racial profiling by French law enforcement.

Official figures suggest that between 3400-4000, people have been arrested so far, including around 1,200 minors - some even as young as 12. Most of the arrested individuals have no previous criminal record, the justice ministry said.

According to the latest figures from the French Interior Ministry, over 12,000 cars and some 500 municipal buildings have been burned and over 1,000 shops and bank offices have been looted in the unrest.