At least 72 arrests on seventh night of France riots

Paris, Jul 4 (EFE).- At least 72 people were arrested in the seventh consecutive night of riots in France, which registered fewer episodes of violence, authorities reported Tuesday.

The government said there had been no serious incidents, as figures decreased from the 157 registered Monday and the 400 from Sunday.

There were also 159 cars set on fire, 24 public buildings damaged by attacks from rioters, as well as four vandalized police stations and barracks, as law enforcement continued at the same level of mobilization, with 45,000 officers and gendarmes deployed across key areas.

President Emmanuel Macron was going to receive more than 200 mayors Tuesday morning at the Elysee Palace of towns that registered riots.

According to employers’ association Medef, localities have sustained damages worth more than EUR1 billion (about $1 billion), with more than 200 looted shops and 300 destroyed bank branches.

Employers have not included the impact this social outbreak may have for the image of France and for tourism in this assessment, triggered by the June 27 death of a 17-year-old boy shot by an officer while trying to evade a police check in a car for which he did not have a license.

Macron, who visited several fire stations Monday night in Paris, spoke of the possibility of financially sanctioning families of minors responsible for violence, in what is understood as a reference to social benefits.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne also received the heads of the majority parliamentary groups Tuesday morning, after having done so yesterday with those of the opposition. EFE

ac/lds