The police were massively mobilized in the Bas-Rhin to ensure security during the transition to 2023. “Nearly 3,000 police officers, soldiers, firefighters and marauders ensured the security of the New Year festivities in the department. “, indeed recalled the prefecture, according to which “this mobilization makes it possible to draw up an overall assessment of the evening more favorable than in previous years, in particular” in Strasbourg.

However, she noted "a record number of arrests".

"Arrests are increasing sharply this year," said the prefecture, according to which the police made 62 arrests during the night of New Year's Eve, against 25 last year.

According to a police source, the people arrested, "mainly minors", were arrested for "mortar fire", "degradation" or even for "detention of fireworks".

A curfew for children under 16

The prefecture had issued orders prohibiting firecrackers and fireworks, the sale of petrol in jerrycans and that of alcohol on the public highway.

It had also imposed a curfew for minors under the age of 16.

Among the sixty people in custody, a man will be judged in particular this Monday in immediate appearance for throwing various objects at the police, we learned from the Strasbourg prosecutor's office.

“Three law enforcement officers were slightly injured, following the throwing of fireworks,” said the prefecture.

She did not mention the number of cars burned but according to a police source, who also drew a "rather positive assessment" of this evening, "about sixty vehicles" were burned in Strasbourg.

A police mobilization that "is a huge deterrent"

The results of this night can be explained by the fact that the police "took position early, at the end of the afternoon", estimated a police source.

This “made it possible to dissuade, it was effective.

We take possession of sensitive places, we show our presence, it dissuades enormously ”.

"We tended in the past years to stand back and wait, to intervene when there was urban violence, but the intervention became too late," she added.

The prefecture also did not immediately specify the number of people injured by handling firecrackers or fireworks, which are very popular in Alsace during the end-of-year celebrations and sometimes cause serious injuries.

According to another police source, four people have been injured this year, one of whom had four fingers torn off while handling a mortar.

The other three were more lightly injured.

At the national level, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, announced a 20% drop in the number of cars burned compared to last year but an 11% increase in arrests (490 this year).

Company

90,000 police officers, 490 arrests and two million people on the Champs… The results of New Year's Eve

Miscellaneous facts

Bas-Rhin: An educator suspected of touching six girls during the World Cup final

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