A mother was run over and killed in front of her children by an Algerian football fan celebrating his team’s win as supporters rioted in Paris following the country’s Africa Cup of Nations victory last night.
A night of wild celebrations turned to violence in the French capital after Algeria defeated Ivory Coast 4-3 on penalties in Egypt to reach the semi finals of the competition.
Dozens were arrested while three motorcycle dealerships were looted around the Champs Elysee as police used teargas on supporters.
In the southern city of Montpellier, a woman was run over and killed while her one-year-old baby was seriously injured when a 21-year-old Algeria fan lost control of his car at high speed in the Mosson neighbourhood, officials said.
Another of the victim’s daughters, a 17-year-old, suffered an ankle injury. The driver has been arrested.
Fans celebrating Algeria’s win let off flares in the middle of the street in Paris, bringing traffic to a standstill
France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner on Friday condemned the football-related violence as being ‘absolutely unacceptable’
Police carrying batons and tear gas apprehend a supporter as fans gathered around the Champs Elysees
Many had joined a huge crowd at the Arc de Triomphe on Thursday evening after the North African side beat Ivory Coast on penalties
Boys and girls as young as six were among those videoed fleeing from riot-control officers as a night of celebration descended into violence in Paris.
Many had joined a huge crowd at the Arc de Triomphe on Thursday evening after the North African side beat Ivory Coast on penalties.
France’s Interior Minister Christophe Castaner on Friday condemned the football-related violence as being ‘absolutely unacceptable’.
He said a total of 74 people were arrested across the country, including 10 minors in Paris accused of lighting fires and throwing stones at the police.
Fireworks and fire crackers were let off, as hundreds of cars and motorcyles hooted their horns, and traffic was brought to a standstill.
But as night fell, gangs of youths broke in to the shops, including a Ducati motorbike dealership.
Algerian supporters in Paris blocked streets in Paris to celebrate their team’s win in Africa
Debris strewn across a Parisian pavement catches fire as police struggled to maintain order
Members of the crowd accused the police of heavy-handedness, saying too many children were caught up in the chaos
Algerian fans garbed in the national flag and team shirts stood on the roofs of cars during celebrations
Police used tear gas on Algeria football fans celebrating their latest victory in the Africa Cup of Nations
Police monitor celebrations in Paris which quickly soured as fans resorted to arson and vandalism
‘Bikes were wheeled out of broken windows, while accessories including helmets and gloves were also taken,’ said a police source in the French capital.
‘There were also attacks on officers, meaning that tear gas had to be used to clear the roads.’
But members of the crowd accused the police of heavy-handedness, saying too many children were caught up in the chaos.
‘One minute we were celebrating, the next we were being poisoned by police,’ said a mother of four who asked to be identified by her first name of Amira.
‘All of my children including a six year old were gassed, as were plenty of others who were out on the street.
‘There were no warnings – they simply wanted us to go home, so started gassing us, along with tourists and anybody else who was around..’
Three motorcycle dealerships were looted in Paris with footage of smashed windows showing the extent of the damage
‘Bikes were wheeled out of broken windows, while accessories including helmets and gloves were also taken,’ said a police source in the French capital
A huge crowd gathered at the Arc de Triomphe after the North African side beat Ivory Coast on penalties
As night fell, gangs of youths broke in to the shops, including a Ducati motorbike dealership
Algeria, who beat Ivory Coast in the quarter-finals of the competitions being held in Egypt, has a massive following in French cities such as Paris and Marseille.
Video posted on social media showed much of the trouble, which led to some 30 arrests in the Paris area by the early hours of Friday morning.
There were similar scenes in Marseille, and in other major French cities such as Lyon, where there is also a huge community of Algerian origin.
Algeria is a former French colony which won independence from France in 1962 following a bitter war.
Teargas is classed as a chemical weapon, and banned from warzones, in line with international agreements.
In Britain its use is heavily restricted, and never used indiscriminately against crowds containing men, women and children, as happens in France.
There was no immediate comment from the police about the gassing of children on Friday morning.
Photos show the carnage left by Algerian football fans with Ducati motorcyles knocked to the ground
‘One minute we were celebrating, the next we were being poisoned by police,’ said a mother of four who asked to be identified by her first name of Amira
Joyous celebrations took a turn for the worse as evening fell and fans descended into chaos
Hours after the Algeria win over Ivory Coast in the African Cup of Nations, vandalism became rife
The French Interior Minister said a total of 74 people were arrested across the country, including 10 minors in Paris accused of lighting fires and throwing stones at the police