France News

Left and right make an issue of rioting Paris youths

Thursday, 29 March 2007

Left and right make an issue of rioting Paris youths

About 100 Paris youths who were rioting at a railway station in France have become an issue in the presidential election and the French government's UMP candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy, supported police who arrested an alleged fare dodger, which was what had caused the problem to begin with.

The rioting occurred at the Gare du Nord station after an argument over a train fare and rioters smashed windows as well as damaging vending machines and shops.

A man was arrested after jumping over the ticket barriers and transport officials claimed he had punched two ticket inspectors who asked for his ticket but the crowd felt that the police used excessive force to arrest him.

Police ended up using teargas to disperse the rioters and made 13 arrests.

With the presidential elections coming up in April, both the left and right were soon to comment on the problem and whilst Nicolas Sarkozy backed the police and the action they took, Socialist candidate Segolene Royal blamed the problem on him for not doing his job properly as interior minister of France.

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