Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin in front of the Elysee Palace. – Jacques Witt / SIPA
Prime Minister Jean Castex and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin went to the police station of
Creil, city of Oise which experienced three nights of scuffles last week, to provide their “support” to the police, noted an AFP journalist.
“We wanted to come to give you our unwavering support,” said the head of government, assuring that “there is no question of the Republic retreating”.
Two police officers slightly injured
60 CRS were sent Thursday to reinforce Creil, after two nights of clashes during which two police officers were slightly injured, according to police sources.
Condemning “the unleashed violence” described by the police, Jean Castex assured that “these behaviors must be continued, they will never have the last word, and we will put the necessary resources into it”.
“Our support is not only the essential consideration that we owe you, it is also knowing how to draw operational consequences”, he added, underlining “the extremely determined action of the Minister of ‘Interior’ and specifying that an ‘integrated security contract’ should be signed in Creil.
Previously, the police had explained to Messrs Castex and Darmanin how, in one of the most difficult districts of Creil, they had found themselves “caught under heavy fire” after initially intervening for a barbecue.
“The guys were shooting to hurt us very badly” with Molotov cocktails and fireworks, they explained, speaking of a “dantesque” situation with “40 to 50 individuals unleashed”, where “the population was screaming for them. support ”. “They consider that it is their territory and that their business is disturbing,” said the mayor of Creil Jean-Claude Villemain to the Prime Minister, who asked him the causes of this violence.
Two people were arrested after these incidents, explained the police. In addition, 60 verbalizations were drawn up on Saturday evening for not wearing a mask, a “huge” figure according to them. “Pedestrian cameras will change a lot of things, they are coming in July,” said Gerald Darmanin for his part.