2022 Corsica unrest
In March 2022, the island of Corsica saw protests and riots in response to a prison attack on nationalist leader Yvan Colonna.[1][2] There were rallies in the main cities of Ajaccio, Calvi and Bastia that descended into violent clashes between police and protestors.[3][4] Protestors threw stones and flares at gendarmes.[5]
Events
On 9 March, windows were smashed and the courthouse of Ajaccio was set on fire. A bank was also damaged with a highjacked mini excavator.[6] On 10 March, many projectiles were thrown at police outside a Calvi government building.[7] The same night cars were set on fire in downtown Ajaccio.[8]
Response
President of the Executive Council of Corsica Gilles Simeoni said that the attack on Colonna was an assassination attempt, and called for the Castex government to respond.[9][10]
References
- ^ "Protests intensify in Corsica one week after prison attack on separatist leader Colonna". uk.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Riots shake Corsica over assault of jailed nationalist figure". uk.finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Riots shake France's Corsica over assault on jailed nationalist". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Corsica protests turn to riots over assault of jailed nationalist Yvan Colonna". France 24. 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ Ajaccio, Agence France-Presse in (2022-03-10). "Clashes in Corsica after prison attack on nationalist figure". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Manifestations en soutien à Yvan Colonna : nouvelle soirée de tensions en Corse". France Bleu (in French). 2022-03-09. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Protesters Throw Projectiles at Police Outside Corsica Government Building". uk.movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Cars Set Alight as Protests Continue on Corsica". uk.style.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Gilles Simeoni: «Nous ne sommes pas à l'abri d'un embrasement généralisé en Corse»". LEFIGARO (in French). 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2022-03-13.
- ^ "Corse : l'autonomiste Gilles Simeoni appelle le gouvernement à « ouvrir un véritable dialogue »". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2022-03-11. Retrieved 2022-03-13.