The night was restless in Villiers-le-Bel. Urban violence broke out around 10 p.m., Saturday March 30, along Boulevard Allende, on the edge of the ZAC Behind the Walls of Monseigneur and Cerisaie districts. A crowd of around fifty young people began to commit damage. Six trash cans were set on fire. The police officers who arrived on the scene were targeted by four shots of fireworks. They responded with five de-encirclement grenades, one tear gas grenade and 18 shots from a defense ball launcher. The attackers then fled.
A short time later, a vehicle was spotted delivering fireworks to the troublemakers. The police managed to arrest him around 11 p.m. The four passengers were arrested and taken into police custody. Three sections of CRS 8 were deployed on the ground at that time. They did not have the opportunity to be solicited. Calm had already returned and the rioters did not attempt any further attacks. They left Villiers-le-Bel around 1 a.m.
A call to attack the police would have been broadcast earlier on social networks. This could be a reaction to another video, probably recorded Thursday, which shows two police officers punching a young man several times during an intervention in Villiers-le-Bel. The management of the National Police in Val-d'Oise was informed of the existence of this video on Friday on social networks. The two police officers were suspended the same day and disciplinary proceedings were opened against them. An investigation into violence by persons holding public authority was also opened by the Pontoise public prosecutor's office.
“The shocking video began circulating on Friday,” says mayor (DVG) Jean-Louis Marsac. The prefect called me immediately and disciplinary measures were taken immediately. The video is eloquent: whatever happened before, we can clearly see that the situation is calm and that the police officers are not in danger at the time they act. I also had the new commissioner, they are devastated by the situation. He is someone who supports his men when they need to be but also wants the police to be exemplary, he does not want to let anything slip. » As for the incidents that occurred this Saturday evening, the elected official “admits surprise”. “Nothing happened on Friday, and finally on Saturday evening, in a visibly organized manner, trash cans were pulled onto the public highway and set on fire to bring in the police and firefighters. But there were arrests, including of fireworks suppliers, and the incidents were ultimately limited. »