Paris, Mar. 10, (dpa/GNA) – At least three protesters people and almost two dozen police officers were injured as demonstrations on the Mediterranean island of Corsica turned violent late Wednesday, officials said.
In Bastia in the north of the island, at least three demonstrators, 23 police officers and a photojournalist were injured, the regional prefecture said.
Violent protesters repeatedly attacked police officers at Bastia’s prefecture building with Molotov cocktails.
Corsica has seen violent protests for about a week after separatist Yvan Colonna was attacked and critically injured by a fellow inmate in prison in Arles in the south of France.
The 61-year-old, who was sentenced to life in prison for the 1998 murder of the prefect of Corsica, is in a coma.
Protesters accuse French authorities of having not honoured Colonna’s request to be transferred to a Corsican prison.
Demonstrators in the Corscian capital Ajaccio attacked police outside the municipal building, throwing rocks and incendiary bombs Wednesday evening, police said.
Police responded with shock grenades and tear gas.
Four people were injured, including a journalist, officials said.
According to the newspaper Corse Matin, the Palace of Justice was also hit by a Molotov cocktail, but firefighters managed to extinguish the blaze.
In the city of Calvi, protesters attacked an administrative building with firebombs and stones, authorities said.
Corsican separatists fought for independence from France for decades. In 2014, the underground organization FLNC laid down its arms.
GNA