French ravers attack police as they try to close down NYE party

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People dance during a party in a disused hangar in Lieuron about 40km (around 24 miles) on south of Rennes, on January 1, 2021.
AFP

Ravers at an underground, curfew-busting New Year’s Eve party that drew at least 2,500 people in western France have attacked the police sent to shut them down.

They torched one of the police vehicles and injured officers with volleys of bottles and stones, officials said.

Ravers aboard hundreds of vehicles started converging on hangars in Lieuron, Brittany, on Thursday night to party into the new year, the regional government said.

Police and their vehicles were attacked when they tried to stop the ravers from installing their party gear, it said.

Some officers suffered light injuries, the statement said.

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Police encircle the rave in Brittany
AFP via Getty Images

On Friday morning, 2,500 ravers from France and abroad were still partying, circled by a reinforced police presence, it said.

First aid workers were distributing masks and hand gels to try to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Prosecutors are looking at an array of possible criminal charges.

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People danced during a wild party in a disused hangar 
AFP via Getty Images

The party also took place despite France’s 8pm-to-6am nationwide curfew aimed at dissuading public gatherings during the pandemic.

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