Saint-Pierre-des-Corps: Riots erupt after police-motorcycle collision

Violent unrest erupted in the La Rabaterie district of Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, near Tours, following a collision between a police vehicle and a motorcycle on Saturday, September 19. The accident occurred during an intervention aimed at stopping illegal motorcycle racing. The 19-year-old motorcyclist sustained serious leg injuries and was hospitalized, though his condition is not considered life-threatening.

The incident triggered widespread rioting that lasted until approximately 4:00 AM. Protesters targeted law enforcement with fireworks, projectiles, and Molotov cocktails. The clashes resulted in injuries to at least nine or ten police officers and gendarmes. Significant property damage was reported, including the burning of approximately twenty vehicles and damage to public infrastructure such as bus shelters.

Following the events, the prosecutor of Tours, Catherine Sorita-Minard, announced that the police officer driving the vehicle has been placed under the status of ‘témoin assisté’ (assisted witness). This legal status allows for further investigation into the circumstances of the crash, including potential technical failures like brake issues, without immediate formal indictment. Several individuals between the ages of 16 and 21 were detained in connection with the riots, and a judicial inquiry has been opened to investigate the collision and the subsequent violence.