At least 72 people were arrested on the seventh consecutive night of riots in France, which according to the Ministry of the Interior recorded fewer incidents compared to the last few days.
The number of arrests on the night from Monday to Tuesday communicated by the Government, without referring to the seriousness of the incidents, is lower than the 157 the night before and the 400 arrests that took place on the night from Saturday to Sunday.
According to official data, during the riots that broke out last week, 159 cars were set on fire, 24 public buildings were damaged, as well as four police stations.
In recent days, 45,000 police and gendarmes have been deployed in various parts of the country, but mainly in the Paris region.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, receives today at the Élysée Palace more than 200 mayors from areas where disturbances have been registered.
According to the French employers’ association Medef, the disturbances have already caused damage estimated at around one billion euros: 200 commercial establishments were completely looted and 300 bank branches were destroyed, as well as 250 street kiosks.
Medef has not yet included a forecast of the possible impact of the incidents on the image of France with regard to tourism.
The disturbances were triggered on the 27th of June when a 17-year-old boy was fatally shot by a policeman at a traffic checkpoint.
The young man, who did not have a driving licence, was shot while trying to avoid police checkpoints in Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris.
On Monday, Emmanuel Macron visited several fire stations in Paris that are in the areas closest to the places where riots occur, having admitted the possibility of “economically sanctioning” minors responsible for acts of violence.
The Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, receives today the leaders of the majority parliamentary groups after having met on Monday with the leaders of the opposition parties.
