Arrests in Switzerland after violence inspired by French riots

Unrest in Lausanne: Teenagers Arrested Following Riots in France

The recent unrest in the Swiss city of Lausanne has resulted in the arrest of six teenagers, as they were inspired by the riots occurring in France. Although the scale of violence in Lausanne pales in comparison to that in France, the incident involved the throwing of stones and the smashing of shop windows on a Saturday evening.

Damage to City Centre

Over a hundred youths were involved in damaging shops in Lausanne’s city centre, with a particular focus on a sneaker store. The Swiss police also arrested an adult in addition to the six youths. This incident follows the fifth night of rioting in France, where more than 700 individuals were arrested. The riots in France were sparked by the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old during a routine traffic stop earlier in the week.

Inspired by French Riots

The events in France quickly influenced the situation in Lausanne. More than a hundred youths gathered in the central part of the city, causing damage to businesses. Lausanne police stated that the violence erupted in response to several calls on social media, leading to the smashing of shop windows.

Confronting Aggression

The Swiss police had to confront aggressive, hooded youths throwing cobblestones and even a Molotov cocktail at them on multiple occasions. Despite the challenging circumstances, the 50 deployed police officers remained uninjured. The authorities are now conducting an investigation into the incident.

Arrested Teenagers

The group of arrested individuals consists of three girls, aged 15 to 16, representing Bosnian, Portuguese, and Somali nationalities, and three boys, aged 15 to 17, representing Swiss, Georgian, and Serbian nationalities. Additionally, a 24-year-old Swiss man was also arrested in connection with the unrest.

Inspired by French Situation

According to a spokesman for the Lausanne police, it is evident that the young people involved were inspired by the situation in France. Pierre-Antoine Hildbrand, the Lausanne councillor in charge of security, expressed his disapproval, stating that “nothing justifies these organized attempts to loot shops.” He emphasized that there was no initial demonstration, but rather a deliberate effort by individuals to break windows and steal goods.

In conclusion, the unrest in Lausanne, Switzerland, resulting in the arrest of six teenagers, was triggered by the riots in France. While the level of violence was not as severe as in France, the incident involved the damaging of shops and property. The Swiss authorities are investigating the matter further, and it is clear that the young people involved were influenced by the events in France. The local council emphasizes that such behavior cannot be justified and condemns the organized attempts to loot shops.