Six injured as police and firemen clash

At least 150 firemen from across the Alpes-Maritimes department had gathered at the nearby Cap 3000 shopping centre intent on taking their protest direct to Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice and France’s Minister of Industry. He was not available and the angry group, who were in uniform, then headed for the prefecture’s building and tried to force the gates. It was at this point the CRS (riot police) intervened forming a cordon between the building and the protesters who then veered off towards the Hôtel de Ville (town hall).

Teargas was fired and in the ensuing confrontation, shocked passersby watched aghast as police wrestled the uniformed life-savers to the ground. In total six were reported injured, including four policemen, and five of the firemen arrested, one of the charges being that the protest had not been authorised.

What shocked witnesses was the fact that both sides were in uniform, a frightening glimpse of society breakdown when the forces of law and order clash with those who are entrusted to save lives. CL