New Caledonia riots: Hundreds of French police arrive – BBC News

Hundreds of French police reinforcements have arrived in New Caledonia amid ongoing riots in the Pacific Ocean territory which have left five people dead.

Louis Le Franc, France’s High Commissioner of the territory said reinforcements have been deployed to “control the areas which have escaped our control in recent days… to reconquer all the areas of the urban area which we have lost”.

The unrest erupted this week after lawmakers in Paris backed and approved changes to voting rolls that the indigenous population say will dilute their political influence.

Hundreds of people have been injured, and officials say around 200 people have been arrested so far.

According to AFP, reinforcements began landing at the French army-controlled La Tontouta International Airport on Thursday, and could be seen moving through the capital Noumea carrying rifles and wearing riot gear.

France’s Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, said about 1,000 extra security forces were being sent to the territory to join the 1,700 personnel already there. He said authorities would push for “the harshest penalties for rioters and looters”.

A statement by the High Commission representing France said that state of emergency powers – granted by President Emmanuel Macron earlier this week – had allowed security forces to impose “a calmer and more peaceful situation” around the Noumea for the first time since the unrest started on Monday.

High Commissioner Le Franc told reporters at a press conference that reinforcements would be sent to impose order “where control is no longer assured”.

Under the state of emergency, authorities have imposed a night-time curfew and banned public gatherings, carrying weapons, and the sale of alcohol.

Schools remain shut, and Noumea’s airport is closed to commercial aircraft.

Photos from the territory in recent days show flames and smoke billowing from a shopping centre, burnt out cars, and long queues of people outside shops looking for food and supplies.

Authorities say 10 independence activists accused of organising violence have been placed under house arrest.

Officials say that the five killed during the protests include two gendarmes, and three Indigenous Kanak residents aged 17 to 36.