The French government has sent police reinforcements to the eastern city of Dijon after it was hit by a fourth night of unrest linked to score-settling by members of France’s Chechen community.
Deputy Interior Minister Laurent Nunez travelled to Dijon on June 16, vowing an "extremely strong response" with more than 150 police and paramilitary gendarmes mobilized to halt any new unrest.
At least 10 people were injured in the violence, which began last week after a teenager from the Chechen community was assaulted in Dijon’s low-income district of Gresilles -- an area with a large population of North African origin.
The attack prompted reprisals by dozens of Chechens, who reportedly travelled to Dijon from across France, as well as from neighboring Belgium and Germany.
Late on June 15, dozens of hooded men carrying arms and crowbars gathered in Gresilles, shooting in the air, destroying video surveillance cameras, and setting fire to garbage cans and vehicles, police said.
But officials said the rioters were this time Dijon residents.
Chechnya is a predominantly Muslim region in the North Caucasus.
There are no precise figures on the number of Chechens living in France as they are included with other Russian passport holders.
France Sends Police Reinforcements To Dijon To Quell Chechen-Linked Unrest
Editors' Picks
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
Listen
Top Trending Russia
1
