Several Injured as Violence Spreads Across French Caribbean Islands
Ten police officers were injured, and several journalists were shot at as protests sparked by Covid-19 vaccine measures spread across Martinique.
This follows more than a week of unrest on the nearby French island of Guadeloupe.
According to police reports, 10 officers were injured when objects were thrown at them during operations.
Concerning the journalists – men shot four at four a motorbike as they worked Fort-de-France, but none were injured.
A French government spokesman Gabriel Attal the unrest was “totally unacceptable” and promised that the rioters would be “dealt with”.
The protests on Guadeloupe were started by hardline opponents of compulsory vaccination for health workers and firefighters on the island – a measure already implemented in mainland France.
The protests, which saw barricades set up on roads, have since morphed into a more significant movement to express frustration at alleged neglect of the islands by the authorities in Paris.
The unrest is taking place as vaccination rates in the territories trail those on the mainland.
Strict night curfews were recently announced in both Martinique and Guadeloupe.
The protest movement leaders on Guadeloupe have asked for obligatory vaccinations to be dropped on the island – but the French government has ruled this out.
To address the situation, hundreds of police reinforcements have also been sent to the islands.
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