Débordements aux Aubiers

Les Aubiers is an area of Bordeaux where there have been confrontations between the police and some local folk. Bins have been burned and the trams that pass through there have been interrupted for safety reasons.

The background to all this is the shooting a few days ago of a youth in a suburb of Paris. His car was stopped at a spot-check. These happen sometimes in France. both Pat and I have been stopped at a particular roundabout near our old home in Pessac. They want to see your driving licence and your insurance document to try to catch drivers who are banned or uninsured.

For whatever reason this lad decided to start his car and drive away from the spot check before being dismissed by the police.

Some years ago there was a change in the law. Up to that time police officers could only open fire on drivers if they believed that their lives were in danger - for example someone was driving straight at them. Since the change they can open fire if they believe someone else's life may be put in danger. A policemen opened fire and the young man was shot dead. He was 17.

The policeman in question has been remanded in custody and will face manslaughter charges. But this death has provoked violent reactions in cities across France, including at Les Aubiers in Bordeaux, and in the suburbs of Lormont and Floirac.