Riots, hunger and poverty in the closed suburbs of France

Violent clashes spread throughout the French suburbs, where residents say the police fought hard to ensure universal quarantine due to coronavirus.

Riots, hunger and poverty in the closed suburbs of France
People take a selfie outside the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, Spain, Friday, March 13, 2020. The basilica closed its doors to visitors and suspend construction from Friday, March 13 to prevent the spread of the new COVID-19 coronavirus. Spain, along with Italy and France, is among the countries worst hit by the virus so far in Europe. For most people, the new coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For some it can cause more severe illness. (AP Photo/Joan Mateu)

For several nights, the tension in the streets of the poorest regions of the country increased, which led to a fierce confrontation between the police and local residents.

Marie, a resident of Villeneuve-la-Garenne, about 12 km north of Paris, says the youth in her city are “very evil”

“They want to become law and take justice into their own hands,” she said.

Locals say they want justice for a 30-year-old motorcyclist injured last week as a result of a police incident that triggered a new wave of violence.

On Saturday, April 18, a man’s motorcycle collided with a police car without identification marks. A video taken immediately after the accident, showing a biker lying on the ground, was watched several million times on social networks. You can see residents accusing the police of deliberately opening the door of their car in order to hit a biker.