Police officer shot and wounded in Pointe-à-Pitre during violence in Guadeloupe
A police officer was shot and wounded in Pointe-à-Pitre and six people were arrested during a day of tensions in Guadeloupe. The officer's condition is not life-threatening.
Police officer shot in Pointe-à-Pitre, six arrests
A police officer was shot in Pointe-à-Pitre during the night of Thursday 20 January during clashes that shook Guadeloupe, according to lefigaro.fr. Six people were arrested. According to a police source, the wounded officer's condition is not life-threatening. An investigation was opened and the prosecutor was to hold a press conference the following Friday.
"Island shut down" day and flashpoints of tension
The disturbances took place in a context of mobilisation against vaccine requirements. A week earlier, the collective of organisations Lyannaj Kont Pwofitasyon (LKP), which brings together around fifty organisations, had called for an "island shut down" day to mark the anniversary of its creation in 2009. The appeal, which was largely poorly followed, nevertheless resulted in several flashpoints of tension, notably blockades at the entrances to supermarkets and petrol stations by small groups of protesters.
Basse-Terre hospital targeted
At Basse-Terre General Hospital, around forty people attempted to enter the administrative building, according to AFP information from Christine Wilhem, director of the establishment. She herself had to be evacuated by the security service. "We are beginning to get used to protecting ourselves," she stated.
Molotov cocktails and barricades in Abymes
In the centre of the island, demonstrations described as "unauthorised" by the prefecture deteriorated during law enforcement operations in the Abymes district. Police forces were targeted with "various projectiles, stones, Molotov cocktails, bolts", according to the same prefecture source. On the Canal 10 channel, unionist Gaby Clavier, former secretary of the health branch of UGTG, denounced an intention "to prevent us from demonstrating", as well as "police violence" and "tear-gassing".
Protesters were "pushed back over several kilometres" according to a police source, before erecting barricades and blocking several roads. Helicopters flew over the area in the evening.
At least three live-fire incidents, one shop looted
The Pointe-à-Pitre prosecution office recorded "at least three live-fire incidents" and reported that "at least one shop was looted", as darkness was falling on the island.
Source: Google News GP — Crime