In Rennes, a fire was lit at Place Sainte-Anne on May 19, after the bars reopened. – David Vincent / AP / SIPA
- In Rennes, a thousand people gathered on Place Sainte-Anne on Wednesday, forcing the police to intervene.
- A large fire had been lit after the bars closed, which was the first day to reopen after six months of abstinence.
- This Thursday, the municipality condemned the attitude of certain revelers but also of certain establishments, accusing them of breaches of the rules. Controls will intensify.
Should we expect another binge in the streets of Rennes this Thursday evening? Not impossible. But it’s a safe bet that the areas of Place des Lices and Sainte-Anne will be closely watched. On Wednesday evening, the Breton capital stood out when it saw a thousand people gather on Place Sainte-Anne after the bars closed. The reopening of the terraces after six months of abstinence ended around a large bonfire before the police intervened with tear gas to disperse everyone. No injuries are to be deplored but messages of indignation have poured in on social networks.
In the aftermath of this improvised bamboche, the city wished to react through the voice of its assistant for shops and crafts. “A large majority of traders have kept their commitments, in compliance with the health standards of the charter signed on May 18. However, a number of establishments were clearly overwhelmed by the influx and enthusiasm of their customers, as of yesterday. [mercredi] afternoon, mainly in the Sainte-Anne / Saint-Michel sector ”, regrets Didier Le Bougeant.
Large “bonfire” with pallets on place Sainte-Anne in Rennes while the curfew has been in effect for 1 hour now #Deconfinement pic.twitter.com/Xil5DWy7Cv
– France Bleu Armorique (@bleuarmorique) May 19, 2021
The elected representative of the Center district specifies that “calls to order” were made to the establishments concerned by the municipal services, in conjunction with the prefecture. “It is not admissible that a few establishments, because they break the rules, come to darken the picture of a much awaited reopening”, continues the elected official. On Wednesday evening, the bars saw dozens of customers pouring in for a drink. But they are normally prohibited from serving people who do not have a place on the terrace. “The national police will be present to restore public order, should such events occur again. Controls will be carried out to ensure compliance with health protocols by establishments authorized to open, ”warns Emmanuel Berthier. The prefect specifies that “administrative closures” will be pronounced in the event of non-compliance.
“The behavior of some revelers is not acceptable”
To blame the establishments alone would be too easy, however. Wednesday night, many revelers had their energy drinks in their backpacks. And some of them obviously didn’t want to come home for 9 p.m. “The behaviors of some revelers are not acceptable. One can be happy to be on the terrace and party, but lighting a fire in the middle of a historic downtown square, and ignoring the curfew, is not admissible. We can only deplore these excesses, which tarnished such a beautiful day, ”regrets the deputy mayor Nathalie Appéré.
This Thursday, the municipal police have planned to intensify their patrols to ensure compliance with health rules. But we will have to wait until nightfall to see if these measures will be broken again.