France Riots: China lodges complain as Chinese tourist bus attacked amid unrest

As reported by Reuters, the Consulate General in Marseille raised the complaint, highlighting the concern over the incident.

The Consulate General’s formal complaint called for France to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and their property, the statement said.

The Consular Office statement said, “The bus was attacked by rioters on Thursday, according to state broadcaster CCTV, during violence which hit French cities in recent days since the police shooting of a teenager of North African descent. The Chinese tourists have since left France.”

Chinese citizens in France or heading to France should “strengthen prevention” and be “more vigilant and cautious” in light of the riots which have swept across the country in recent days, the Consular office statement added.

Rioting across France appeared to be less intense on Saturday, as tens of thousands of police had been deployed in cities across the country after the funeral of the teenager, although there was some tension in central Paris and sporadic clashes in Nice, Strasbourg and Marseille.

In the midst of France’s fifth consecutive night of unrest following the police killing of a teenager, young rioters engaged in clashes with the police and targeted the home of a mayor by setting a car on fire, AP reported.

However, compared to previous nights, the overall level of violence seemed to decrease. As part of a massive security deployment, law enforcement authorities made 719 arrests nationwide by early Sunday in an attempt to calm the country’s most significant social upheaval in years.

As reported by AP, the number of nationwide arrests decreased compared to the previous night, a trend attributed to the determined actions of the security forces, according to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin. Since the death of Nahel, over 3,000 individuals have been detained in total. While some residents in targeted neighbourhoods and shop owners affected by looting have welcomed the significant police presence, others perceive it as exacerbating the core issues of France’s current crisis, specifically police behaviour.

The unrest has also had an impact on President Macron’s diplomatic standing. His planned state visit to Germany, which would have been the first by a French president in 23 years, was postponed due to the ongoing situation. Macron was originally scheduled to travel to Germany on Sunday.

The violence has taken a toll on law enforcement, with hundreds of police officers and firefighters injured. The exact number of injured protesters has not been disclosed by authorities. Additionally, in French Guiana, an overseas territory, a 54-year-old individual lost their life after being struck by a stray bullet.

Updated: 02 Jul 2023, 02:36 PM IST