Cities fear a resurgence of riots on the occasion of the national holiday. NDABCREATIVITY / stock.adobe.com
Several municipalities have announced that they are breaking with the tradition of balls or fireworks.
Will July 14 be a day of celebration everywhere in France? Several municipalities have already announced the cancellation of the fireworks, or even all of the festivities. They fear new excesses, a few weeks after the riots following the death of young Nahel in Nanterre.
Badly affected by the violence, the town of Montargis (Loiret) decided to cancel “the fireworks and the balls on July 13 in the evening» and specifies to maintain a «celebration“, with “a special tribute for the security and emergency forces: firefighters, national and municipal police and gendarmes.“In the city of Loiret, a two-storey building had notably collapsed after the fire of the pharmacy on the ground floor. In Pont-Audemer, in Eure, the firefighters’ ball has been canceled. The municipality prefers that the firefighters remain mobilized in the event of new riots, which could lead to fires. No firefighters’ ball either in Saint-Étienne, report it Progress . No fireworks either in Strasbourg, following a recommendation from the Bas-Rhin Prefecture. The city also mentionsthe unavailability of fire and rescue services to secure this event».
To reduce the risk of overflow, the government issued a decree prohibiting “the sale, port, transport and use» firework mortars during the weekend of July 14 throughout the country. A ban which obviously does not apply to authorized professionals or municipalities which organize fireworks for the national holiday. The objective is to prevent potential rioters from obtaining them, in order to use them against the forces of order or buildings. Seizures of firework mortars have increased in recent days.
Drought and fire risk
In Perpignan, we don’t wantrun no risk“, in this period “strong heat“. The city of Louis Aliot (RN) will swap the “traditional fireworks» par «a magnificent sound and laser show“. Also in Nîmes, due to the risk of fire linked to the drought, the town hall announced “a unique drone show“, around the “City emblems“. The military parade is maintained in the city of Gard. “For the first time, a platoon of around twenty Municipal Police officerswill open the procession, announces the city. A decision taken for many small towns, such as that of Mougins in the Alpes-Maritimes, where the fireworks display was canceled by prefectural decision due to the risk of fire.
Other cities preferred to cut the pear in half. In Toulouse and Lyon, the festivities are maintained but framed by an important security device. The Rhône prefecture has also announced a ban on the sale of alcohol, and the transport of gasoline and firework mortars on National Day. In Marseille, however hard hit by the violence of the rioters, the military parade on the Old Port is maintained and will be followed by fireworks. Same story in Lille: the fireworks will take place on the Champ de Mars while many popular balls are organized in the agglomeration. More surprisingly, in Basse-Goulaine, near Nantes, the town hall has decided to postpone the fireworks from July 14 … to Christmas, to avoid the risk of fire.
#July #fear #renewed #riots #drought #cities #cancel #festivities
