1,000 Cars Torched in France During New Year’s Eve Celebrations

France welcomed the New Year with grand festivities on Paris’s famed Champs-Élysées, featuring street performances, live music, and dazzling fireworks.

However, the celebrations were marred by reports of widespread arson across the country, with nearly 1,000 vehicles set ablaze.

According to Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, 984 cars were torched during the night, and authorities arrested 420 individuals, detaining 310 of them.

Despite these incidents, the minister noted that initial reports described the overall atmosphere of the celebrations as relatively calm compared to previous years.

In Paris, about 10,000 police officers were deployed to ensure public safety, with special security measures in place around the Champs-Élysées.

The iconic avenue was closed to traffic, allowing hundreds of thousands of revelers to gather and enjoy the festivities.

Last year, similar New Year’s Eve celebrations in the French capital attracted around one million attendees. Authorities had anticipated a comparable turnout this year and implemented extensive precautions to maintain order.