Academics say unrest following alleged rape by police officer could spark wave of riots last seen in 2005 unless politicians act

French politicians are underestimating the level of anger in the country’s troubled banlieues, which risks sparking an explosion of violence, experts have warned.

The alert comes after another night of violence and arrests in several Paris suburbs. Suspects appeared in court on Tuesday on charges of civil disturbances including torching cars and dustbins and attacks on the emergency services.

'Nothing's changed': 10 years after French riots, banlieues remain in crisis Read more

The unrest erupted after a 22-year-old man, Théo, was allegedly raped during a violent police arrest.

Academics have accused French politicians of failing to deal with the tinderbox conditions in the banlieues or suburban estates, which they say could spark a national wave of riots in the run-up to the presidential elections in April and May.

In 2005, violence broke out in cities across France after two men were electrocuted while hiding from police in an electricity substation in a Paris banlieue.

Sebastian Roché, director of research at the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), and a specialist in the police and the banlieue, told Le Figaro there were many parallels with the 2005 situation.

“The essential line is the same: the supposed malicious intention of the police. The possible elements to spark things off are the same: it’s the same climate, the same basic context, the same areas, with the same populations and, above all, the same antagonism towards the police.”

For more than 30 years, right and leftwing governments have been accused of doing little to improve the situation in France’s high-rise suburban housing projects, which are home to many immigrants and where the poverty and unemployment rates match the high levels of hopelessness and frustration.

Roché said nothing had changed since 2005 – “neither the police’s policy, nor the very high level of hostility in the poor suburbs” – and warned that any violence could quickly spread. “It spreads from one poor banlieue to another … The fuel is the anger and hostility towards the police forces.”

Sylvie Tissot, a sociologist and professor at the University of Paris 8, said there were clear similarities between the 2005 riots and today. “In 2005, the unrest also spread outside one area or town, we are also in the context of a denial of police violence, which increases the anger,” Tissot told Europe1 radio.

She cited the case of Adama Traoré, a 24-year-old who died last July after he was arrested by gendarmes, sparking demonstrations across France.

Tensions remain high nearly a fortnight after the so-called Théo affair, in which a police officer is accused of raping a young man with a truncheon during a violent arrest.



France’s prime minister, Bernard Cazeneuve, said he accepted the “legitimate emotion” caused by the alleged attack on the 22-year-old but added that it did not justify “unacceptable violence”.

President François Hollande on Tuesday visited the Aubervilliers suburb where the incident took place as he called for calm. “There can be no living together if there is no respect,” he said. “And respect is what is due to those youngsters when they are stopped [by police], when they are themselves confronted with violent situations,” Hollande said.

The four police officers accused of attacking Théo have been put under official investigation: one for alleged rape, the others for alleged violence. Police investigators say CCTV images suggest the assault happened “by accident”.