Vandals in Strasbourg, France, marked the start of 2020 by setting countless vehicles on fire. Videos on social media purportedly show shocking acts of arson that took place across the city.
Police have not disclosed how many cars were torched, but a source told AFP that the figure was larger than the previous year. A number of arrests and some minor injuries have also been reported.
Pendant que les Français fêtaient tranquillement la nouvelle année, la racaille n’a pas pu s’empêcher de déroger à « ses » traditions. Voitures brûlées, jets de projectiles sur pompiers et policiers : des scènes de chaos cette nuit à #Strasbourg ! pic.twitter.com/0L4j0c7fSa
The footage circulating on social media appear to show vehicles, many of them overturned, on fire in the streets of Strasbourg. One clip shows a car passing by a series of torched vehicles along the road – an eerie sight to behold on what is typically a joyous evening of champagne-fueled celebration.
Riot police can be seen dodging between flame-engulfed cars as they attempt to restore order to the city.
The burning of vehicles is an unfortunate New Year’s tradition in some parts of France. According to local media, 1,031 vehicles were set alight nationwide on the night of December 31, 2018, compared to 935 on the previous New Year’s Eve.
