2005 French riots
A three-week period of riots took place in the suburbs of Paris and other French cities in October and November 2005. These riots involved youth in violent attacks, and the burning of cars and public buildings.
| 2005 French riots | |||
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| Part of civil unrest in France | |||
A car in Strasbourg lit during the riots. | |||
| Date | 27 October – 16 November 2005 (21 days) | ||
| Location | Various cities and towns in France 47°N 2°E | ||
| Caused by | Police chase of youths on 27 October | ||
| Methods | Arson, rioting | ||
| Resulted in | State of emergency declared on 8 November, rioting slows down by mid-November | ||
| Parties | |||
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| Lead figures | |||
Non-centralized leadership Jacques Chirac | |||
| Number | |||
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| Casualties and losses | |||
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The unrest started on 27 October at Clichy-sous-Bois, where police were investigating a reported break-in at a building site, and a group of local youths scattered in order to avoid interrogation. Three of them hid in an electrical substation where two died from electrocution, resulting in a power blackout (It was not established whether police had suspected these individuals or a different group, wanted on separate charges.). The incident ignited rising tensions about youth unemployment and police harassment in the poorer housing estates, and there followed three weeks of rioting throughout France. A state of emergency was declared on 8 November, later extended for three months.
The riots resulted in more than 8,000 vehicles being burned by the rioters and more than 2,760 individuals arrested.