2005 French riots
A three-week period of riots took place in the suburbs of Paris and other French cities[4][5] in October and November 2005. These riots involved youth in violent attacks, and the burning of cars and public buildings.
2005 French riots
27 October – 16 November 2005
(21 days)
Police chase of Muslim youths on 27 October
State of emergency declared on 8 November, rioting slows down by mid-November
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.[6]
Judicial consequences[edit]
After ten years of preliminary proceedings, a trial was held in March 2015 against the police officers that were involved on the night when the deaths of Zyed Benna and Bouna Traore took place. The trial ended up without any convictions, which triggered an outcry from some members of the public.[63]