FRENCH COPS BATTLE PARTYGOERS AT OUTDOOR RAVE FOR 7 HOURS

Fierce clashes broke out between partygoers and police trying to break up an illegal rave in northwestern France, resulting in several injuries, including a man who lost a hand, local authorities said on Saturday, Rachel Bossmeyer reported for Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa).

The hours-long violence erupted after about 1,500 people defied coronavirus restrictions against an outdoor rave Friday night in the small town of Redon, in Brittany. Around 400 police officers responded to the scene.

The situation soon deteriorated, with people throwing Molotov cocktails, boule balls, and rocks at the security forces, local prefect Emmanuel Berthier said.

The clashes lasted more than seven hours. Several people were injured, including 11 gendarmes and a young man who lost one of his hands, Berthier said.

Five people were taken into custody, the Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported, citing the prosecution in Rennes. According to Berthier, the situation had calmed by Saturday morning.

In the evening the area was completely cleared. The prosecutor's office has initiated investigations.

WEEKLY FEATURE : PAL READY TO SOAR WITH PANDEMIC