Participants in the Carnaval de la Plaine in Marseille -

Christophe Simon / AFP

  • The Carnival of the Plain in Marseille gathered this Sunday 6,500 people who came to party despite the coronavirus epidemic.

  • The police headquarters strongly condemned the organization of this undeclared event, which resulted in damage.

  • Seven people were arrested, and the president of the metropolis announced her intention to file a complaint.

The party turns into controversy.

In a statement released on Sunday evening, the police chief of Bouches-du-Rhône indicated that seven people were arrested on the sidelines of the Plaine carnival in Marseille Organized despite the coronavirus epidemic, this political and militant carnival brought together no less of 6,500 people, twice as many as in its previous edition, in 2019.

In this press release, the prefect of police affirms that "the police intervened to disperse the crowd and immediately put an end to the degradations".

The prefecture reports "numerous throws of projectiles and mortars" towards the police.

A complaint from Martine Vassal

In this same statement, the police chief once again condemns the holding of such an event which, like every year, has not been declared to the authorities.

"The irresponsibility, violence and degradation committed by the participants in the carnival of the Plain are unjustifiable, writes the prefecture.

Even if this event was not declared at the prefecture, a control system had been put in place around the course to report non-compliance with barrier gestures.

"

In a tweet, the LR president of the metropolis Martine Vassal announces her intention to file a complaint following these degradations.

"I ask the town hall of Marseille to join me in this process," she wrote.

Still on Twitter, the deputy PS to the mayor of Marseille in charge of security Yannick Ohanessian said "strongly condemn the degradations committed on the sidelines of the demonstration".

Scandalized by what happened today in #Marseille.

Caregivers are putting their lives in danger and many new cases of #Covid are to be feared as a result of these acts.

Irresponsibility at this level is criminal.

All the elected officials of Marseille must condemn.

pic.twitter.com/rbjV1TVhoN

- Martine VASSAL (@MartineVassal) March 21, 2021

❌ #Carnavaldelaplaine #Marseille Responsibility must come first in these difficult times for everyone.

Nothing justifies the lack of respect for barrier gestures and the curfew.

I strongly condemn the degradations committed today on the sidelines of the demonstration.

- Yannick Ohanessian (@yann_ohanessian) March 21, 2021

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  • Video

  • Martine Vassal

  • Interpellation

  • Complaint

  • Coronavirus

  • Carnival

  • Marseilles