France bans buying fireworks for Bastille Day after riots

By Robert PlummerBBC News

France has banned the sale, possession and transport of all fireworks during the upcoming Bastille Day festivities.

The government issued a decree on Sunday prohibiting "pyrotechnic articles" for the 14 July celebrations that mark France's national day.

The move comes after rioting sparked by last month's police killing of 17-year-old Nahel M by police in Nanterre.

However, the ban does not apply to official firework displays organised by local authorities.

"In order to prevent the risk of serious disturbances to public order during the 14 July festivities, the sale, carrying, transport and use of pyrotechnic articles and fireworks will be prohibited on national territory until 15 July inclusively," said the edict, published in the French official gazette.

Fireworks were a popular weapon during the week of unrest, which included some of France's worst urban violence for almost 20 years.

And even in normal times, events in public squares and streets on the evening of Bastille Day have often been disrupted in previous years by young people throwing firecrackers.

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne said that in addition to the restrictions on fireworks, a "massive" security presence would be deployed in order to keep the peace and "to protect the French during these two sensitive days".

She told Le Parisien newspaper that many people were "quite worried" about the possibility of fresh incidents of violence during the national holiday.

More than 3,700 people were taken into police custody in connection with the recent protests, including at least 1,160 minors, according to official figures.

Bastille Day marks the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris more than 200 years ago, a key event in the French Revolution.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o67CZ5qopV%2Bjsri%2FjrCmq6SUYrK2vs6pnGZuZmaBeIWRaQ%3D%3D