Police cars damaged, public buildings damaged… reinforcements expected after a night of violence “against a backdrop of drug trafficking”

Trois voitures de police ont été endommagées. MAXPPP – Richard Villalon

After the events that took place last night, Bruno Retailleau announced the arrival of 50 CRS reinforcements in the sensitive Saugeraies neighborhood in Mâcon.

During the night of January 18 to 19, numerous urban violence broke out in the sensitive Saugeraies neighborhood in Mâcon, according to information from France 3. Violence that allegedly took place “against a backdrop of drug trafficking” according to the prefect of Saône-et-Loire, Yves Séguy. According to our colleagues, the situation returned to normal around 5 a.m.

Three police cars damaged

A total of three public buildings were damaged, as well as seven “light vehicles”, an excavator, ten garbage cans and three police vehicles. The prefect has published decrees to prohibit the possession and transport of weapons “all categories combined” and of ammunition and objects “which could constitute a weapon”.

The mayor of Mâcon Jean-Patrick Courtois went to the scene in the morning. “Clearly, what happened was people who felt they didn't have everything they were asking for”, he explained to our colleagues. The perpetrators of the crimes are said to have warned of their future actions via graffiti on the walls.

Reinforcements announced

“They want premises to be in peace, to do their business in peace, in safety… There is no question of giving them premises to traffic drugs and launder money. The traffickers say that until they get satisfaction, they will set the neighborhood on fire and blood,” explains the mayor.

Interviewed this Sunday morning on BFM, the Minister of the Interior Bruno Retailleau announced the deployment of reinforcements, around 50 CRS. “Ifwe want to attack the evil at the root, we will have to take legal action“, explains the minister.