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## Chirac promises punishment as unrest spreads

By ELAINE GANLEY

Sunday, November 6, 2005 Posted at 2:44 PM EST

Associated Press

Paris — French President Jacques Chirac on Sunday promised arrests, trials and punishment for those sowing "violence or fear" across France — as the urban unrest that has triggered attacks on vehicles, nursery schools and other targets hit central Paris for the first time.

Youths set ablaze nearly 1,300 vehicles and torched businesses, schools and symbols of French authority, including post offices and provincial police stations, on the 10th consecutive night of unrest.

The violence took another alarming turn with attacks in the well-guarded French capital. Police said 35 cars were torched, most on the city's northern and southern edges.

In central Paris, gasoline bombs damaged three cars near Place de la Republique. Residents reported a loud explosion and flames.

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"We were very afraid," said Annie Partouche, 55, who watched the cars burning from her apartment window. "We were afraid to leave the building."

Mr. Chirac spoke after a security meeting of his top ministers.

"The law must have the last word," Mr. Chirac said in his first public address on the violence. Those sowing "violence or fear" will be "arrested, judged and punished."

"The absolute priority is restoring security and public order," he said. He said security measures would be reinforced.

The French president had faced criticism from opposition politicians for not publicly speaking about France's worst civil unrest in more than a decade. His only previous comments came through a spokesman.

From an outburst of anger in suburban Paris housing projects, the violence has fanned out into a nationwide show of disdain for French authority from youths and minorities, most French-born children of Arab and black Africans angered by years of unequal opportunities.

Arsonists burned 1,295 vehicles nationwide overnight Saturday-Sunday — sharply up from 897 the night before, national police spokesman Patrick Hamon said, adding that police made 349 arrests nationwide.

For a second night, a helicopter equipped with spotlights and video cameras to track bands of marauding youths combed Paris suburbs and small teams of police chased rioters speeding from attack to attack in cars and on motorbikes.

"What we notice is that the bands of youths are, little by little, getting more organized," arranging attacks through cell phone text messages and learning how to make gasoline bombs, Hamon said.

Police also found a gasoline bomb-making factory in a derelict building in Evry south of Paris, with more than 100 bottles ready to turned into bombs, another 50 already prepared, as well as fuel stocks and hoods for hiding rioters' faces, senior Justice Ministry official Jean-Marie Huet told The Associated Press. Police arrested six people, all under 18.

The discovery Saturday night, he said, shows that gasoline bombs "are not being improvised by kids in their bathrooms."

Police said copycat attacks are fanning the unrest but had no evidence of separate gangs coordinating. Officials said older youths, many already with police records, appear to be teaching younger teens arson techniques.

Unrest extended west to Normandy and south to Nice and Cannes on the Mediterranean coast, with attacks in or around the cities of Lyon, Lille, Marseille, Strasbourg. In all, 3,300 buses, cars and other vehicles have been incinerated in 10 nights, the police spokesman said.

In Evreux, 60 miles west of Paris, five police officers and three firefighters were injured in clashes with youths who destroyed at least 50 vehicles, shops and businesses, a post office and two schools, authorities said.

"Rioters attacked us with baseball bats," said Philippe Jofres, a deputy fire chief, told France-2 television. "We were attacked with pickaxes. It was war."

The rioting erupted Oct. 27 after two teenagers of north African descent were accidentally electrocuted as they hid in a power substation, apparently believing police were chasing them. Anger was then fanned anew days ago when a tear gas bomb exploded in a mosque in Clichy-sous-Bois — the northern suburb where the youths died.

Government officials have held a series of meetings with Muslim religious leaders, local officials and youths from poor suburbs to try to calm the violence.

#### Latest Comments in the Conversation

Editor's Note: Globeandmail.com editors read and approve each comment. Comments are checked for content only, spelling and grammar errors are not corrected and comments that include vulgar language or libelous content are rejected.

1. j hay from toronto, Canada writes: Like I said in #39 see #41.
   - Posted Nov. 7, 2005 at 2:16 AM EST
   - Link to Comment
2. Orlin Olsen from Winnipeg, Canada writes: Re: Comments 33 and 35, by IRa I guess this individual believes only
   he/she has the right to an opinion.The simple fact is, racism is
   also very alive and wellin many non western societies and
   cultures. Just check out the evening news. I seem to recollect that a
   well known and respected Dutch politician was murdered not too long ago
   by an individual or individuals who thought thathis well stated
   views on immigration in Holland were "libelous" against a particular
   group. We don't need this kind of vile thinkingin Canada.
   France, Canada and other western countries must say no to violent
   groups and theirapologistswhowouldadvocate
   anarchy as a means to an end. Citizenship in any civilized nation must
   be regarded as a privilege and not an inherent right.
   - Posted Nov. 7, 2005 at 2:49 AM EST
   - Link to Comment
3. David Dennis from Toronto, Canada writes:

   The issue is a confict in VALUES and not ECONOMIC NEGLECT !

   ParisDLD.

   - Posted Nov. 7, 2005 at 3:13 AM EST
   - Link to Comment
4. Ann Levine from Sector C, Bahamas writes: #41 has a quick and easy solution. Why should the French have to suffer
   such losses. Perhaps words cannot describe this carnage. This damage to
   public and private property has gone too far. Why should the Frnch have
   to bear the expenses of something they have little control over and
   have not asked for? Deportation seems to be the only solution.
   The rest of Europe should learn from France.
   - Posted Nov. 7, 2005 at 3:17 AM EST
   - Link to Comment
5. Ann Levine from Sector C, Bahamas writes: How many times must it be reiterated? Reform of immigration policies is important.
   I have noticed some people, actually, it seems most here think so, that
   immigrants should conform to the greater society, and not the other way
   around.
   What is France? A Melting Pot like the USA, the supposed Mosaic of Canada, or something entirely on its own?
   Does anyone feel that the concept of a Mosaic is ultimately doomed for failure?
   These riots just seem to direct the common sense detector towards the concept of the melting pot.
   Perhaps in Canada, we should ask ourselves, is a cultural mosaic any good?
   Perhaps we should re-think the idea of the mosaic.
   Perhaps the Globe and Mail should conduct a poll: "Melting pot or mosaic?"
   - Posted Nov. 7, 2005 at 3:27 AM EST
   - Link to Comment

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