Britons defied Covid rules to party at a 2,500-strong underground rave in France where revellers attacked police trying to shut it down.
The partygoers had set up the illegal rave in Lieuron, Brittany, on New Year’s Eve after skirmishes with officers, said a statement from the local prefecture.
Many people were still on the site Friday as a sanitary cordon was thrown up around it.
Local gendarmes tried to ‘prevent this event but faced fierce hostility from many partygoers’ who set one of their cars of fire and threw bottles and stones.
The partygoers had set up the illegal rave in Lieuron, Brittany, on New Year’s Eve after skirmishes with officers, said a statement from the local prefecture
Many people were still on the site Friday as a sanitary cordon was thrown up around it
Local gendarmes tried to ‘prevent this event but faced fierce hostility from many partygoers’ who set one of their cars of fire and threw bottles and stones
Those present had come from across France and even abroad, it said. Pictured: The party on New Year’s Eve
By Friday night, the sound of techno music could still be heard from the party venue, though police were preventing any newcomers from joining the rave
Those present had come from across France and even abroad, it said.
By Friday night, the sound of techno music could still be heard from the party venue, though police were preventing any newcomers from joining the rave.
Police said: ‘Police controls are taking place around the site. Verbal warnings are being given to everyone leaving.’
Speaking later on BFM TV, interior ministry spokesman Camille Chaize said there had been ‘great hostility, great violence’ against the forces of law and order, without indicating when the police would be able enter the rave site.
Such mass gatherings are banned across France to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and a nationwide 8pm curfew applies across the country.
Police said: ‘Police controls are taking place around the site. Verbal warnings are being given to everyone leaving’
Speaking later on BFM TV, interior ministry spokesman Camille Chaize said there had been ‘great hostility, great violence’ against the forces of law and order, without indicating when the police would be able enter the rave site
Such mass gatherings are banned across France to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and a nationwide 8pm curfew applies across the country
Reports said the rave party took place in an empty warehouse belonging to a storage company
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the illegal organisation of a musical gathering and premeditated violence against persons in authority
Reports said the rave party took place in an empty warehouse belonging to a storage company.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into the illegal organisation of a musical gathering and premeditated violence against persons in authority.
Vehicles registered from all over France were still parked at the site Friday.
Partygoers said the revellers had included people from foreign countries, including Spain and Britain.
Jo from the Alsace region of eastern France said they had all met at a designated spot Thursday evening in the parking lot of a shopping centre.
More than 150 people were warned, and the three suspected organisers have been arrested
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 132,000 police were deployed across France for the New Year celebrations to ensure security and that the curfew was respected. Pictured: The Lieuron party
Partygoers said the revellers had included people from foreign countries, including Spain and Britain
Jo from the Alsace region of eastern France said they had all met at a designated spot Thursday evening in the parking lot of a shopping centre. Pictured: People leaving the party
Then the convoy headed for Lieuron, where the police tried to prevent them from passing, he said
Then the convoy headed for Lieuron, where the police tried to prevent them from passing, he said.
He acknowledged ‘very few had respected social distancing’ at the event, which was supposed only to end later on Saturday.
French authorities have been worried about mass rave parties throughout the pandemic, but New Year’s night was a particular concern.
In the southern city of Marseille, security forces halted an illegal party grouping some 300 people, police said.
More than 150 people were warned, and the three suspected organisers have been arrested.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 132,000 police were deployed across France for the New Year celebrations to ensure security and that the curfew was respected.
Darmanin said on Twitter on Friday he was working with local officials in the evening ‘on re-establishing a normal situation’ while keeping people safe.