Rockets were used during the six days of violent unrest triggered by the fatal shooting of Nahel Merzouk by police
France has banned fireworks outside authorised public displays during the 14 July Bastille Day holiday weekend, amid simmering tensions over last month’s police killing of a teenager and a brutal arrest at the weekend, which sparked fresh allegations of police violence.
In a decree published on Sunday, the government outlawed the “sale, possession, transport and use of pyrotechnical articles and fireworks” until after 15 July “in order to prevent the risk of serious disturbances to public order during 14 July festivities”, which authorities have said they fear could provide the spark for renewed violence.
