Nov. 27, 2007
French President Nicolas Sarkozy vows to track down rioters who shot at police and bring them to justice after violence rages for a third straight night. However, French Prime Minister François Fillon says things were calmer than the previous two nights.
Nov. 26, 2007
Angry youths wage running battles with police for a second night in a row in neighbourhoods outside Paris, injuring more than 77 police officers.
Nov. 25, 2007
Groups of French youths throw rocks and bottles at police in the Paris suburb of Villiers-le-Bel, a town of public housing blocks that is home to Arab, black and white residents.
The clashes erupt after two teenagers are killed in a motorcycle crash with a police car, stirring the tensions that drove countrywide riots in immigrant-heavy housing projects in 2005.
Jan. 2, 2006
French president Jacques Chirac says his government will lift the state of emergency imposed at the height of the riots on Jan. 4 – six weeks ahead of schedule.
Dec. 1, 2005
The French government introduces proposals aimed at improving education and opportunities for young people in immigrant neighbourhoods. Among the bill's provisions are increased testing to reduce an illiteracy rate of 30 per cent among students entering secondary school in the neighbourhoods, scholarships to post-secondary institutions for promising students, and no welfare benefits for parents who won't send their children to school.
Nov. 17, 2005
The level of violence continued to subside a day after France's Senate approved extending state of emergency powers for three more months. The emergency powers allow towns and cities to impose curfews and search anyone suspected of taking part in violence.
Nov. 14, 2005
In his first national address after 18 days of riots in France, President Jacques Chirac says discrimination must be fought, but order must be restored, as well. "The events bear witness to a deep malaise," he says.
The French cabinet votes to extend the state of emergency by three months.
Nov. 13, 2005
France is relatively quiet overnight, reporting only two major incidents, in Lyon and in Carpentras. Reports say 374 vehicles were set on fire across the country, compared to about 1,300 the previous week. Some minor incidents are reported in Belgium and the Netherlands.
Nov. 12, 2005
Overnight, more than 300 cars are burned and more than 100 people arrested. French police warn that rioters are co-ordinating gatherings over the internet and through text messages.
Nov. 11, 2005
Authorities in Paris ban large gatherings deemed likely to cause disorder.
Nov. 10, 2005
Hundreds of vehicles are torched in the southern city of Toulouse as young people clash with police. But the level of violence across the country falls for the third night in a row following the introduction of state-of-emergency measures. Police arrest about 200 people, according to the Interior Ministry, down from 280 the previous night.
Nov. 9, 2005
Riots in France continue despite imposed curfews in 30 cities, although the number of violent incidents, such as burning cars, is cut in half. Rioters set fire to two major retailers in Arras, a newspaper office in Grasse and a subway station in Lyon.
French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy says 120 foreigners have been convicted in the violent riots. He says he has asked for convicted foreigners to be deported "whether they have proper residency papers or not."
Nov. 8, 2005
The French cabinet invokes a 1955 law, originally passed to stem an insurrection in Algeria, to allow local governments to impose curfews in an attempt to stop the rioting.
French President Jacques Chirac declares a state of emergency throughout the country.
Nov. 7, 2005:
A 61-year-old man who was beaten while trying to put out a fire during rioting in a Paris suburb dies from his injuries. Police say the fatality is the first in 11 nights of violence. Similar urban unrest is reported in Belgium and Germany.
According to Latvia's president, French President Jacques Chirac acknowledged in private conversations that France has failed to integrate the French-born children of Arab and black African immigrants in poor suburbs.
Ottawa issues a travel advisory to Canadians travelling through areas affected by the riots in the suburbs of Paris and Lyon.
Nov. 6, 2005:
President Jacques Chirac promises to restore order. The announcement follows the worst night of rioting to date: more than 1,500 vehicles are set on fire and approximately 400 people are arrested. Two police officers suffer serious injuries.
Nov. 5, 2005:
Rioters set fire to two schools and many more vehicles in the 10th consecutive night of French riots.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin met with eight of his cabinet ministers to try to come up with a plan to deal with the violence. After the meeting, Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy warned authorities could impose stiffer sentences for arsonists.
Nov. 4, 2005:
More than 250 people are arrested in violence in the Paris area. At least 900 vehicles are set on fire.
Nov. 2, 2005:
Gangs of youths set fire to more than 300 vehicles, fire on police and pelt a commuter train with rocks in the seventh straight night of violence in poor Paris suburbs. Nine people are injured.
Nov. 1, 2005:
President Jacques Chirac says clashes between rioters and police must be dealt with calmly but firmly.
"The law must be applied firmly and in a spirit of dialogue and respect. The absence of dialogue and an escalation of a lack of respect will lead to a dangerous situation," he says after a cabinet meeting.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin postpones a visit to Canada to deal with the violence at home.
Oct. 31, 2005:
Rioting spreads from Clichy-sous-Bois to several neighbouring suburbs. Young people throw crudely made Molotov cocktails and set fire to cars and garbage cans, and the police fire tear gas.
An officer is slightly hurt and 12 people are arrested.
Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy pledges to continue going after troublemakers.
"I want to commend members of the secret service for their work," he says. "I'm asking them to infiltrate some of these neighbourhoods to detect gang leaders, dealers and criminal big shots."
Oct. 30, 2005:
A tear-gas grenade explodes near a mosque in Clichy-sous-Bois. It is the kind used by riot squads. Sarkozy sends police reinforcements into the suburb.
Oct. 29, 2005:
More than a thousand people march through one of the suburbs hardest hit by the riots - Aulnay-sous-Bois. Some wear T-shirts with the slogan "died for nothing."
Oct. 28, 2005:
Hundreds of youths clash with riot police in Clichy-sous-Bois and the neighbouring suburb of Montfermeil. Live ammunition is fired at police.
Oct. 27, 2005:
Two black teenagers are electrocuted after hiding in an electrical substation in the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois. Zyed Benna and Bouna Traore believed police were chasing them, according to a third teenager, who was badly injured but survived the incident. The three found themselves near the scene of an apparent break-in as police arrived to investigate.
Police deny they were chasing the youths, but the rumour spreads through the neighbourhood, which is home to many immigrants of African and Arab origin - and their French-born children.
Sporadic rioting breaks out and arsonists torch 15 vehicles.
Oct. 25, 2005:
Stones and bottles are tossed at Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy as he tours the Paris suburb of Argenteuil. He was in the area to outline a new government plan to deal with urban violence.
Sarkozy is considered a contender for president in elections scheduled for 2007. His critics say he has been pandering to the far right vote with his tough talk on crime. He has described violent elements in the community as "scum" and talked of "hosing down" their neighbourhoods.
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2007 riots
- Viewpoint: Déjà vu in Paris
- David Common reports for CBC-TV (Runs: 2:03)
- Play: Real Media
- Play: QuickTime
2005 riots
- Photo gallery
- Viewpoint: After the rampage
- Simmering Anger: Don Murray's special report on the riots (Real Video runs 4:31)