“Doing harm while being playful”: how fireworks mortars became the weapon of choice for delinquents

Sylvain Allemand // Credits: Stephane DUPRAT / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP 7:23 p.m., March 18, 2024

Last Sunday, the La Courneuve police station, in Seine-Saint-Denis, was the target of an impressive firework mortar attack.

A new incident involving these objects, proving that in just a few years they have become the new weapon of choice for delinquents to attack the police.

Once synonymous with celebrations, fireworks are now the expression of uninhibited violence against the police.

Last Sunday, the La Courneuve police station, in Seine-Saint-Denis, was the target of these brightly colored incandescent projectiles.

The damage was limited to a cracked window and some burn marks.

“The images are terrible, it shows that we can besiege a police station at any time and with complete impunity with these weapons!”, Bruno Barret, special advisor to the Alliance Police union, protested to Europe 1.

Last summer, during the riots linked to the death of young Nahel following a refusal to comply, the French discovered with amazement these garishly colored projectiles spat by fireworks mortars aimed at helpless police officers facing to masked delinquents.

“These projectiles have been the artillery of urban guerrilla warfare for five years now,” explains Bruno Barret.

These objects are originally festive objects which have long been used in neighborhoods, particularly for weddings.

"There were already significant stocks in Ile-de-France, but now, they are weapons by destination (Editor's note: an everyday object can be assimilated to a weapon as long as it is used or the holder has the "intention to use it to kill, injure or threaten, and since this object is likely to present a danger to people)", indicates Bruno Beschizza, mayor of d'Aulnay-sous-Bois, in Seine-Saint- Denis.

“It's like crutches in colleges at one time. Some students went to the establishment limping in order to have a crutch to use it violently,” he adds. 

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“It’s the weapon of cowards” 

Firework mortars are used belligerently for practical reasons.

"These are the weapons of cowards. Unlike Molotov cocktails, they allow you to keep a distance from your target while doing more damage. For only 48 euros, delinquents can easily obtain a deadly weapon which sends 380 shots from more than 80 km/h", explains the special advisor.

In addition to its lethality, mortars also easily cause fires.

Added to this ease of use is the striking side of these attacks which generate impressive images relayed massively on social networks.

“The thugs think about the damage and the images that it generates to show that they lay down the law in the street. It’s doing evil while being playful,” breathes the mayor of Aulnay-sous-Bois.

“We also have to put ourselves in the place of the police officers targeted by these projectiles, it’s very impressive for them,” he adds.

A weapon by destination which, through its visually impressive side, has established itself as the essential protest tool, particularly for very young delinquents, sometimes as young as 12 years old. 

A vast underground network

For a long time, the French legislator was rather lenient regarding the possession of fireworks mortars.

Before 2021, non-professionals over the age of 18 could purchase these items legally.

From now on, sales to non-professionals are punishable by a fine of 7,500 euros and six months' imprisonment.

“Unfortunately, it is very easy to obtain pyrotechnic equipment, you just have to order on the internet or go to Belgium where the legislation is not the same,” notes Bruno Barret.

Another way for criminals to obtain this arsenal at a lower cost: illegal networks.

“The sale of fireworks mortars undercover has become a real illegal sector coming from Belgium. It is a network which constantly supplies stocks in the neighborhoods,” explains the mayor.

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To stem the spread of these weapons by destination, several solutions are requested by law enforcement and local elected officials.

“Sanctions must really be applied to dissuade offenders from using them,” demands Bruno Barret.

For Bruno Beschizza, the solution is more radical: "When you open the trunk of a car coming from Belgium and you find these objects, they must be considered weapons."