Unrest in Suburban Paris

Nighttime unrest in the Rose des Vents area of the northern Paris suburb of Aulnay-sous-Bois began on February 4 and has continued over the course of several nights. Residents have clashed with police, set fire to trashcans and vehicles, and vandalized buildings, including area businesses. According to media reports, on February 6, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at a U.S.-based fast-food chain restaurant, causing some damage. Though the situation was calmer in the Rose des Vents area on the night of February 7, incidents, including Molotov cocktail attacks against a municipal police station and a school, were reported in nearby suburbs of Tremblay-en-France, Le Blanc-Mesnil, and Clichy-sous-Bois. The unrest in Aulnay-sous-Bois, which is located in the vicinity of Paris – Le Bourget (LBG), has not caused any disruptions at the airport or on the surrounding highways. While the government has taken steps to address a February 2 police incident that sparked the unrest, protests may continue in the coming days. The situation is not expected to spread into central Paris, but organizations located in Aulnay-sous-Bois and affected nearby suburbs may suffer further collateral damage in the event that violence continues.

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