Several individuals targeted the facade of the La Courneuve police station (Seine-Saint-Denis) with fireworks mortars this Sunday, March 17. Nine people were arrested and taken into custody.
This Sunday March 17, the La Courneuve police station (Seine-Saint-Denis) was targeted around 10:50 p.m. by around “fifty individuals” having thrown fireworks and projectiles at the police station, trash cans were also were set on fire in the evening. According to Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez, 9 people were arrested as indicated this Monday on TF1, then placed in police custody.
“These are probably the individuals behind the attack on the police station,” he said. Calm returned shortly before midnight, indicates BFMTV. “There was strong responsiveness from the police and I want to congratulate them. We intervened immediately and we will continue to secure the sector” said this Monday morning, the Paris police prefect.
Acts of violence “to avenge Wanys”?
La Courneuve is the subject of particular attention after the death, last Thursday, of young Wanys R, during a chase with the police in Aubervilliers. After a collision with a vehicle from the anti-crime brigade (BAC) which was coming in the opposite direction, the young man lost his life. On X (formerly Twitter), young people claimed responsibility for the attack on the La Courneuve police station “to avenge Wanys” according to Le Parisien. Incidents also broke out in Creil (Oise). As a reminder, last Saturday, the Trappes police station (Yvelines) was also targeted by mortar fire, again according to daily information.
Additional forces deployed this Monday
Several videos clearly show mortar fire aimed at the police station. Traffic on tram line T1 was interrupted between the stations La Courneuve – 8 Mai 1945 and Hôpital Delafontaine, explains the RATP. Traffic resumed around 2 a.m.
“We then carried out security operations around the police station which made it possible to extinguish a certain number of trash fires and disperse small scattered groups of young people,” indicated Laurent Nuñez. Additional resources such as mobile forces will be deployed this Monday, from “midday”.