Thursday, May 6, 2021

A Little Paris 'War'

 So, this is a little story which isn't really carried on any of the German networks, and marginally discussed in France (except for newspapers).

Around three days ago....if you live in the inner circle of Paris....about 2 miles NE of the river, near the Stalingrad Metro station, there was (in the marginal sense) a war that started up.

It's mostly locals who are fed up with drug-dealing around the Metro station and the lack of interest with the police in resolving the situation.  So what the locals (mostly younger folks) went to....was urban warfare.  

Weapon of choice?  Well....that's an interesting thing.

Heavy-duty fireworks....the mortar-type.  Where they are getting the assortment....unknown.

They target both drug-users and the dealers.

What is generally said by various social media types....is that the last year was mostly ineffective with the local authorities, police and prosecution....so they've gone to the next level. 

What might happen here?  I'm guessing at some point...the dealers will tell the users...that the region around the Stalingrad Metro Station is a no-go place, and they need to move the entire operation.....a mile east or west of there....maybe the Pigalle Station (to the west) or the Fabian Station (to the south).  

Naturally, those locals will pick up on this in a month or so....getting irate that the police and local authorities won't listen to them, and there's likely to be another little 'war' to start up.

All of this reflecting upon the ineffective nature of politics and policing now?  Well...that's the thing that the French have been discussing for the past decade, and it generally gets worse each year.

2022?  Well....that's a national election year, and frankly...it's question that Macron can win another election without doing something very serious with the police, and the crime situation in France.

As for the police maybe trying to bring 'peace' to the Stalingrad Station area?  Why would they?  The residents are accomplishing what the police can't achieve.

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