VIDEO: French police battle party-goers at illegal rave, youth loses hand

Gulf Today Report

Five police officers were injured in western France as they broke up a 1,500-strong illegal rave, authorities said on Saturday, with one party-goer losing a hand.

Television footage showed security personnel firing tear gas, while party-goers threw firecrackers, projectiles and petrol bombs when clashes erupted after about 400 police moved to break up the party.

Emmanuel Berthier, Police Chief in the Ille-et-Vilaine, said a 22-year-old had lost his hand during the "extreme violence", and security forces said on Twitter account that the clashes lasted about seven hours.

As of Saturday morning, about 1,000 people remained at a horseracing track near Redon in Brittany, where the party was held, and officials said they hoped to regain control soon.

"The people were not there to celebrate, but to clash with the police," Pascal Duchenne, Mayor of Redon, told BFM television.

Local authorities had on Friday banned the party, which came two days before the coronavirus curfew is set to be lifted as Covid-19 case numbers fall in France.