« Sweden: Rape Epidemic - Disproportionate Numbers of Rapists From Muslim Countries |
| Indonesia: Islamist Threatens West on Video »
November 16, 2005
France: Muslim Riots Decrease, Church Burned In South
According to Le Figaro, the riots appear to finally be abating. Only 163 cars were burned last night, the twentieth night of unrest, compared to 215 the night before. At the same time a poll by Ipsos found that the popularity ratings of Nicolas Sarkozy and Dominic Villepin had increased dramatically. Even the popularity of Jacques Chirac, who did nothing for the first nine days of the riots, had increased by 6%.
Villepin, the Prime Minister, had his personal score upped by 7%, while the greater gains went to the tough talking, hardline Minister of the Interior, Nicolas Sarkozy, whose popularity had increased by 11%.
There were only 50 arrests last night, compared to 71 the night before. In the Ile-de-France (greater Paris region) only 27 cars were destroyed, compared to 60 the night before, and 136 overall in the provinces, compared to 155 previously. Arras, Brest and Vitry-le-Francois had 11 cars burned in each town, but only five former trouble-spots in the provinces had more then five cars destroyed.
However, Le Figaro reports that a church was set alight in the the south of France, in the picturesque area of Le Drome, between Dauphine and Provence, at a small town north of Avignon. The fire at the church of Saint Jean d'Ars at Romans-sur-Isere had been started deliberately, with matches found at the scene. The fire, which was started around 10 pm had destroyed the altar and part of the roof, having been put out about midnight, according to firemen.
After the event, elected officials appealed for calm after the "stupid act", in an area where no particular incident had occurred over the past few days. The church is situated in the quarter entitled la Monnaie. Shortly after midnight, at 0.45 am, a stolen car was driven into the commisariat for la Monnaie, damaging the metal curtain at its front, stated police sources.
The judicial police at Valence have been informed of these two incidents.
Posted by Giraldus Cambrensis at November 16, 2005 7:47 PM
Comments
Post a comment
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven't left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)