The authorities welcome a "peaceful" climate, despite acts of violence.
The Pyrénées-Atlantiques prefecture has recorded dozens of acts of violence during the traditional Bayonne celebrations which took place from July 27 to 31, reports France Bleu Pays basque on Tuesday.
On the five days of celebration, four complaints of violence were filed with the police, including one for a stab wound to the abdomen.
210 criminal acts were recorded.
Among them, 17 purse robberies, and 137 cell phone thefts.
A rape was also noted, specifies France Bleu Pays basque.
1,400 people were taken care of by caregivers mobilized in the field, who examined 124 patients complaining of bites.
Of these 124 people, 60 filed a complaint and 17 were subjected to samples.
“More respectful” parties
These figures are however below the initial fears of the prefecture: "The phenomenon of bites has not had the magnitude that some feared", commented the sub-prefect of Bayonne Philippe Le Moing-Surzur.
The parties were "more peaceful, more respectful, despite an increase in attendance", greeted the sub-prefect, quoted by France Bleu.
In total, between 1.1 and 1.2 million people took part in the traditional Bayonne festivals for this 2022 edition, an increase of 15% in attendance compared to 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The celebrations required the mobilization of 1,321 people, from the police to the firefighters, including civil security, private security personnel, as well as caregivers.
