Latest news with #centralFrance
France 24
4 days ago
- Automotive
- France 24
Motor rally accident kills three spectators in France
The driver of the modified Peugeot 208 that hit the spectators and her 51-year-old woman co-driver were taken to hospital but without life-threatening injuries, prosecutors said. Two men died at the scene and prosecutors later announced that a third man, airlifted to hospital, succumbed to his injuries. The three killed were two brothers, aged 70 and 60, and a 44-year-old man, according to the public prosecutor's office, which opened an investigation. Several people who witnessed the accident near the town of Ambert in central France were in shock, a local official told AFP. In total, a dozen people were taken to a psychological support unit set up in the nearby village of Saint-Just. The accident occurred around 11 am (0900 GMT) on Saturday. "This is a tragedy for the world of racing," said Joel Mathurin, the local prefect, or top government official for the area. Regional prosecutor Laure Moisset said the accident was "very violent". In a short statement, the rally organisers said that the race was halted at 10:49 am. All spectators were asked to leave the scene and the event's award ceremony was cancelled. Dozens of firefighters and police were dispatched to the scene. The investigation was "in its early stages," the prosecutor said. The Peugeot 208 car was to be examined. The road where the accident took place, almost a straight line according to authorities, has been closed. Prosecutors said they would have to determine whether the spectators were in an authorised area during the rally. "I prefer to remain cautious," Moisset told reporters. "It is still a little too early to be precise," she added. Organised since 1965, the motor rally attracted 167 teams for its 32nd edition. In the rally held last year, a race marshal died. © 2025 AFP
France 24
20-07-2025
- France 24
Masked rioters clash with police after attacking motorists in French city of Limoges
Dozens of masked assailants wielding metal bars, mortars and Molotov cocktails attacked cars on a busy road and clashed with police early Saturday in the city of Limoges in central France, officials said. The overnight Friday to Saturday clashes left nine police wounded, according to authorities, who said they suspect a gang turf war. The unrest came in the middle of France's summer tourism season. The armed attackers descended on the RN141 throughway and tried to block it during a battle with police, according to officials. "There were between 100 and 150 masked individuals, armed with Molotov cocktails, fireworks, stones, iron bars and baseball bats," local police union leader Laurent Nadeau told AFP. Police responded with tear gas and crowd-control munitions. Mayor Emile Roger Lombertie called the rioters an "urban guerrilla group". "They're organised, structured, there's a plan, weapons," he said. "This was not a spontaneous protest to complain about something. No pretext, nothing. It's about destroying things and showing the territory belongs to you," Lombertie added. Motorists 'shocked' Prosecutors said vehicles, some with families and children, were attacked but there were no immediate reports of wounded drivers. "None of the motorists were physically assaulted. However, several are particularly shocked," prosecutors said in a statement. Unrest had erupted nearby, in Val de l'Aurence, on the night of July 14, France's national day. Lombertie said this "very poor neighbourhood, with young people from immigrant backgrounds" had become a "lawless zone". The Limoges prosecutor, Emilie Abrantes, said that while the neighbourhood is "known" for drug trafficking, there was no evidence linking the unrest to recent investigations into drug trafficking. France's interior ministry announced on Saturday plans to deploy a special security force to the city.
The Guardian
19-07-2025
- The Guardian
Masked rioters attack highway and clash with police in Limoges, France
Dozens of masked assailants wielding metal bars, mortars and molotov cocktails attacked cars on a highway and clashed with police early on Saturday in the city of Limoges in central France, officials said. The overnight clashes left nine police wounded, according to authorities, who said they suspected a gang turf war. The unrest came in the middle of France's summer tourism season. The armed attackers descended on the RN141 throughway and tried to block it during a battle with police, according to officials. 'There were between 100 and 150 masked individuals, armed with molotov cocktails, fireworks, stones, iron bars and baseball bats,' local police union leader Laurent Nadeau told AFP. Police responded with teargas and crowd-control munitions. Mayor Émile-Roger Lombertie called the rioters an 'urban guerrilla group'. 'They're organised, structured, there's a plan, weapons,' he said. 'This was not a spontaneous protest to complain about something. No pretext, nothing. It's about destroying things and showing the territory belongs to you.' Prosecutors said vehicles, some with families and children, were attacked but there were no immediate reports of wounded drivers. 'None of the motorists were physically assaulted. However, several are particularly shocked,' prosecutors said in a statement. Unrest had erupted nearby, in Val de l'Aurence, on the night of 14 July, France's national day. Lombertie said this 'very poor neighbourhood, with young people from immigrant backgrounds' had become a 'lawless zone'. The Limoges prosecutor, Émilie Abrantes, said that although the neighbourhood was 'known' for drug trafficking, there was no evidence linking the unrest to recent investigations into drug trafficking. France's interior ministry announced on Saturday plans to deploy a special security force to the city.
ABC News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Tadej Pogačar loses key Tour de France ally as Tim Merlier wins dramatic sprint
Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier has won the ninth stage of the Tour de France in a mass sprint after Mathieu van der Poel spent the whole day at the front before being caught by the chasing pack less than a kilometre from the finish. There was no significant change in the overall standings and three-time Tour champion Tadej Pogačar kept the race leader's yellow jersey. Sunday's stage headed into central France on a 174 kilometre flat stretch for sprinters. But van der Poel, a one-day classics specialist with a flamboyant style of riding, almost foiled their plans. The Dutch rider joined his Alpecin-Deceuninck teammate Jonas Rickaert in an early breakaway and produced a tremendous effort over 173 kilometres at a speed of about 48 kilometres per hour but could not go all the way and was swallowed less than a kilometre from the line. Merlier won the sprint ahead of Jonathan Milan, the winner of Saturday's stage, with Arnaud De Lie completing the podium. It was Merlier's second stage win of this year's Tour. "I got boxed in a bit but then I managed to go all in and I was able to do my sprint like I wanted to and I'm happy to win my second stage here," Merlier said. In the overall standings, double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel remained 54 seconds behind Pogačar in second place. Frenchman Kévin Vauquelin was third at 1:11 behind, and two-time Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard sat 1:17 behind in fourth spot. Earlier in the stage, João Almeida, a key teammate of Pogačar, abandoned the race. Almeida, who fractured a rib during stage seven, was dropped early and the UAE Team Emirates-XRG later announced over the race radio that the Portuguese rider had retired. The Portuguese rider was caught in a high-speed crash earlier in the week as riders scrambled for position at the front, 6 kilometres from the finish line. He escaped without a concussion but his rib fracture finally proved to be too painful to carry on in the three-week race. Almeida finished fourth at the 2024 Tour de France and he started this year's edition on the back of strong results elsewhere, having won the Tour de Suisse, Tour de Romandie and Itzulia Basque Country. The mountainous stage on Bastille Day from Ennezat to Le Mont-Dore features seven second-category hills or passes. The final climb has an 8 per cent gradient. AP
The National
26-06-2025
- Climate
- The National
100,000 homes without power in France after deadly storm lashes Paris
Two people, including a child, died in a violent storm that lashed France overnight, emergency services said on Thursday. The storm toppled trees, flooded Paris streets and caused the French Parliament's roof to spring a leak as Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was speaking in a debate on the Middle East. The weather front followed a sweltering heatwave with temperatures passing 35°C. It brought gusts of wind exceeding 100kph that damaged property. Nearly 100,000 homes were still without electricity on Thursday, mainly in central France, emergency services said. "Trees blocking roads, damage to infrastructure and homes, flooding and power cuts have been reported," they added. More extreme heat is expected this weekend and into early next week. In southern France, a falling tree killed a 12-year-old boy, while a man on a quad bike died after crashing into a tree that had been brought down by the storm. The downpour late on Wednesday injured 17 others, one seriously. In Paris, the sky turned an eerie yellow as lightning flashed above the Sacre-Coeur basilica and fierce winds sent people rushing for cover. Rain leaked through the roof of the lower house of parliament, forcing legislators to suspend talks on conflict in the Middle East. "It's raining in the chamber ... I repeat: it's raining in the chamber," wrote MP Maud Petit on her X account. It was also pointed out by Mr Bayrou, looking up at the National Assembly's leaking domed ceiling after delivering a speech. "Have you noticed that it was raining?' he said. The assembly vice president, Roland Lescure, suspended the debate so fire officers could check out the problem. When he restarted the session about 15 minutes later, Mr Lescure those in attendance that absorbent mats had been used to patch up the leak.
