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Violence Erupts at Aurillac Street-Theatre Festival Opening, Eight Police Injured

Prosecutors have opened an investigation pledging to refer identified suspects to court.

Des agents de la police anti-émeute CRS passent devant le Casino Barrière Le Croisette lors de la 78e édition du Festival de Cannes, à Cannes, dans le sud de la France, le 16 mai 2025. (Photo : SAMEER AL-DOUMY / AFP)
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Le festival de théâtre d’Aurillac perturbé par de nombreuses violences
Festival du théâtre de rue à Aurillac, le 20 août 2025.

Overview

  • Clashes broke out minutes after a tagger was arrested in front of a bank, quickly drawing a crowd in the city center.
  • Roughly 300 people, including about 60 masked activists described by officials as black blocs, hurled paving stones, built barricades, and set trash-bin fires.
  • Damage includes shattered shop windows and bus shelters, with firefighters protecting by police extinguishing several small blazes.
  • CRS used tear gas to push back the most violent groups, additional riot units were deployed, and the festival is continuing under reinforced security through August 23.
  • Eight police officers were reported lightly injured, no arrests or custodial detentions have been made, and the mayor estimated public-space damage at €20,000 to €30,000 with no injuries reported among festivalgoers.