2009 French riots

{{Short description|Period of rioting in France}}

{{Infobox civilian attack

| title = 2009 French riots

| image = Montreuil map.svg

| caption = Montreuil location in Paris metro area

| location = Firminy and Montreuil, {{flag|France}}

| coordinates =

| date = 9–14 July 2009 (6 days)

| time =

| timezone = UTC+2

| type =

| injuries = 13 police officers

| perps = youths demonstrators

| perp =

| susperps =

| susperp =

| weapons =

| numparts = 250+

| numpart =

| dfens =

| dfen =

}}

A series of riots took place in July 2009 in France. On Bastille Day in the commune of Montreuil, an eastern suburb area of Paris, French youths set fire to 317 cars.[http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/France-Protesters-Clash-With-Riot-Police-And-Burn-Cars-Before-On-Eve-Of-Bastille-Day/Article/200907215337681?f=rss Cars Burned During Violent Clashes In France]. Sky News. July 14, 2009. Thirteen police officers were injured.[http://www.france24.com/en/20090714-317-cars-burned-bastille-day-14-july-france-violence-vandalism 317 cars burned ahead of Bastille Day] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716053858/http://www.france24.com/en/20090714-317-cars-burned-bastille-day-14-july-france-violence-vandalism |date=2009-07-16 }}. France 24, July 14, 2009. On 9 July many youths started a protest in Firminy near Saint-Étienne, after the death of a young Algerian man, Mohamed Benmouna, in police custody.{{cite web|last=Samuel |first=Henry |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/5826164/French-youths-riot-on-eve-of-Bastille-Day.html |title=French youths riot on eve of Bastille Day |publisher=Telegraph |date=2009-07-14 |accessdate=2014-01-02}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8149362.stm |title=France unrest before Bastille Day |publisher=BBC News |date=2009-07-14 |accessdate=2014-01-02}} Benmouna's parents rejected the official account of suicide.{{cite web|url=http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world/riot-clouds-france-on-the-eve-of-bastille-day_100217939.html |title=Riot Clouds France On The Eve Of Bastille Day - Thaindian News |publisher=Thaindian.com |date=2009-07-14 |accessdate=2014-01-02}} Riots on Bastille day are a frequent occurrence in France as the disaffected protest high unemployment rates and failed integration policies for minorities.{{cite web|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/14/content_11709081.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090718154042/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-07/14/content_11709081.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 18, 2009 |title=Violence overshadows France's National Day_English_Xinhua |publisher=News.xinhuanet.com |date=2009-07-14 |accessdate=2014-01-02}} More than 240 people had been arrested near Paris.

The injured officers suffered mainly from hearing difficulties after having been targeted by youths armed with fireworks and small-scale home-made explosives.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8149362.stm France unrest before Bastille Day]. BBC News Online. July 14, 2009.