Rioting broke out on French housing projects as tensions escalated over the coronavirus lockdown.
Tear gas and baton charges were first used by police in the northern Paris suburb of Villeneuve-la-Garenne in the early hours of Monday.
As the violence continued to spread special squads of Republican Security Company (CRS) police were drafted in to deal with gangs of youths.
It is said to be the result of the opening an enquiry after a 30-year-old motorcyclist was critically injured following a collision with an unmarked police car in Villeneuve-la-Garenne.
Riots erupted last night in Northern Paris after reports an 'Arab Muslim Youth' was hit by an unmarked Police car. pic.twitter.com/bGOCMyXglI
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Friends of the victim, who have not been named, claimed the incident on Saturday night was an example of police heavy-handedness against ethnic minority communities during the lockdown.
One of his friends said:
“The very badly injured man comes from an Arab Muslim background. He is critical in hospital, and people in the area have reacted very badly to what has happened.”
A local police spokesperson said in response:
“Police and their reinforcements have been the target of rioters, who have thrown stones and fireworks.
The violence started in Villeneuve-la-Garenne and has spread to other towns and estates nearby.”
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