reinforcements of police and gendarmes arrive from mainland France

Men paraded through Nouméa (New Caledonia) with a police car as a trophy. Yet another challenge to the authorities from the rioters. At times, the situation seems to calm down, and some residents go out to clear the roads or stock up on food. This Friday, May 17, they barely had time to collect some food when the situation degenerated. A crowd movement caused confusion, and explosions were heard.

Faced with armored police vehicles, young people tried to break into businesses with hammers. According to the authorities, three disadvantaged neighborhoods of Nouméa, Vallée du Tir, Montrable and Kaméré, remain out of control and are inaccessible to the police. Their task is all the more complicated because many of them are armed at the roadblocks. Reinforcements of gendarmes and police have just arrived from mainland France. “We are responsible for welcoming them, deploying them to control the areas which have escaped us in recent days”declared the High Commissioner of the Republic in New Caledonia, Louis Le Franc.