There is no question of setting things alight at the end of the year. The Minister of the Interior asked the prefects on Thursday to fight against the “circulation” of “firework mortars” and the “proliferation” of pyrotechnic articles for the end-of-year celebrations, in particular by using drones. Gérald Darmanin asks them to “systematically prevent and repress any diversion of pyrotechnic articles”, he wrote in a telegram.
He also orders prefects to “strengthen the fight against the circulation of fireworks”, often used by young people against the police, by “increasing monitoring on online sales sites and social networks” . Gérald Darmanin also calls for “encouraging the use of drones to detect possible storage on roofs” or even implementing “border controls”.
New Year’s sparkles
Very developed in Germany, the traditional use of firecrackers and fireworks for New Year festivities is also very common in certain departments of eastern France. Last July 14, the authorities banned the sale of all pyrotechnic items in France, including fireworks “mortars”.
This provision was made while this national holiday took place in the wake of the violent riots caused throughout the country by the death of young Nahel, killed by the shooting of a police officer during a road check in Nanterre on June 27.