In light of the recent unrest, France wants to prevent a resurgence of unrest on the July 14 national holiday with a nationwide ban on fireworks. The ban imposed on Sunday prohibits the sale, carrying and transport of fireworks until July 15. Excluded are professional fireworks organizers, as they are traditionally organized on the national holiday in many French cities.
“The deputies and residents I met there are really very concerned about the national day and possible new incidents,” Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, who ordered the ban, said in an interview with Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday. The interior minister, however, will deploy a huge police force to protect the French from further riots on the national holiday.
During protests against police violence following the death of a 17-year-old when a police officer was shot nearly two weeks ago, there were days of clashes between protesters and police in France. Officials were attacked with fireworks and public buildings such as police stations and schools were set on fire.
In several regions there is already a ban on the sale and possession of pyrotechnics and other dangerous substances. Border controls with Belgium are designed to prevent imports. 1.5 tonnes of pyrotechnics have been confiscated in the Paris area since the riots.