Dozens of masked attackers armed with metal bars, explosives, and makeshift weapons targeted vehicles on a highway and engaged in violent confrontations with law enforcement early Saturday in Limoges, a city in central France, authorities reported.
The overnight clashes resulted in injuries to nine officers, with officials suggesting the violence may stem from territorial disputes between rival groups.
The incident occurred during France's peak travel period as visitors frequent the region.
Armed individuals attempted to block the RN141 highway while fighting with police, according to officials.
“Between 100 and 150 masked people, carrying explosives, fireworks, stones, and blunt weapons were involved,” local police representative Laurent Nadeau told news agencies.
Officers used tear gas and non-lethal measures to disperse the crowd.
City leader Émile-Roger Lombertie described the participants as a “coordinated militant faction.”
“They’re prepared, disciplined, with weapons and a clear objective,” he said. “This wasn’t a sudden outcry over an issue—there was no justification. It was purely about destruction and asserting dominance.”
Authorities confirmed that several vehicles, some carrying passengers including families, were damaged, though no drivers were physically harmed. “No motorists were injured, but many are deeply shaken,” officials stated.
Similar disturbances had occurred in the nearby Val de l’Aurence area on the evening of 14 July, France’s independence celebration. Lombertie referred to the area as a “disadvantaged district with a significant youth population from diverse backgrounds” that has become a “zone with little oversight.”
Prosecutor Émilie Abrantes noted that while the neighborhood is “recognized” for narcotics activity, there is no proof connecting the recent disorder to ongoing drug-related inquiries.
National security officials announced Saturday that additional specialized forces would be sent to the city.
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