On December 31, in the early evening, several hundred vehicles began to reach the scene, located in an activity zone in the town of Lieuron.
Le Monde avec AFP
Ignoring the police and health rules, hundreds of young people, glued to each other, have fun on techno: since Thursday, December 31, an illegal party is in full swing in disused hangars in the Breton town of Lieuron (Ille-et-Vilaine). A “surreal” vision for residents in the midst of the Covid-19 epidemic.
To the sound of deafening music, dozens of revelers again let loose, Friday, January 1 st , feet in the mud in a vast industrial hangar made of sheet metal and concrete blocks, where a “Happy 2021” banner was displayed. Very few wear the mask. Outside, many participants, mostly young people, strolled, some walking with a bottle of alcohol in hand or going to eat at one of the stands present, while others returned to their cars to rest for a while. before going back to dance.
Anaïs and Lucien, who do not want to give their real first name, like all those interviewed by Agence France-Presse (AFP), found their car to have a bite to eat. They decided to drive four hours on Thursday evening from the Charentes to participate in the party. “It brings back good memories! It had been so long since we last had one …”, explains this young man in his twenties. “We hesitated a little before leaving, but we did well. There was even a fireworks display for the transition to the New Year!”, Says Anaïs. They think they will stay until Sunday, while others count on Tuesday.
An irrepressible desire for “freedom”
Many young revelers explained that they had been guided by an irrepressible desire for “freedom”, while confinement weighs heavily on them.
Camille, who came with four friends from Finistère, explained her desire to “escape” for a few minutes. hours, despite the cold of duck, even if he recognizes that barrier gestures are not applied. “It’s very well organized inside [the hangars],” he said, however, referring to electric blankets or the food stalls.
Many revelers said they were surprised to see that the chosen location was in the immediate vicinity of many houses, a restaurant and a foie gras company, while these parties are generally organized in more isolated places.
“So far, it’s going to be fine, but how will it be, if they have to be dislodged?”, asks a local woman by train to have coffee with friends while watching dozens of revelers parading past her. “It’s quite surreal”, abounded another resident of the hamlet, not far from the charred carcass of a police vehicle, a sign that the establishment of the party was not without incident with the police. . Three other gendarmerie vehicles were degraded and the soldiers wiped bottles and stones, causing minor injuries, said the prefecture of Ille-et-Villaine in a statement.
New new arrivals were still walking towards the scene
A manager of a small company railed when he discovered that the fence of his company had been damaged. Some tensions were palpable, especially towards journalists, whose presence was not necessarily appreciated at the place of the rave party. If the gendarmes were present at crossroads a few kilometers from the hamlet, their presence was, on the other hand, extremely discreet near the party. The sound of a helicopter, however, showed that the illegal gathering worried the authorities.
“When and how is it going will he finish? “sighed a resident, while the prefecture counted 2,500 revelers on Friday morning, but some newcomers were walking in the afternoon to the party venues.
The prosecution entrusted an investigation to the research brigade of the Redon gendarmerie, in particular for the unlawful organization of a festive gathering of a musical nature, willful violence against persons in public authority, concealed work, illegal holding of a debit drinks and drug offenses.