On Saturday, French police broke up a huge party in northwest France that had been going on since New Year's Eve, in defiance of curfews and restrictions imposed by the Corona virus on large gatherings.

Police said about 2,500 people attended a party in an unused warehouse in Lioron, near Rennes, and some clashed with police on Saturday.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen said on Twitter that the party-goers had been imposed fines upon leaving the site and the organizers had been identified and would be prosecuted.

Ile-e-Villene Prefecture said 450 fines were imposed for attending an illegal party, breaking curfew and not wearing masks. And local health authorities urged party goers to isolate themselves for 7 days.

On Saturday, after the clashes, the county added that Rennes prosecutors had opened an investigation into the illegal organization of a music event and violence against those in power.

The governorate said that a police car was set ablaze, and three others were wounded. Party-goers threw bottles and stones at the police, and a number of officers were lightly injured.

With the largest number of cases of COVID-19 in Western Europe, France is working to intensify the restrictions imposed on the Corona virus, imposing an early curfew in 15 provinces in the northeast and southeast of the country, starting today, Saturday, starting at 6 pm instead of 8 evening.

France has already had two national closures since the outbreak began and the last of them was eased in mid-December, but restaurants and bars are currently banned and it is not clear when they can reopen.

Source: Reuters

By:Nadeemy Haded