France bans private use of fireworks until July 15

France has banned the private use of fireworks from next Sunday until the end of next Saturday, July 15, to prevent their possible use in new disturbances.

The decree prohibits “the sale, carrying, transportation and use of pyrotechnic articles for recreational use throughout the national territory”.

The ban is justified to avoid “the risks of serious public order problems during the festivities of July 14”, the French national holiday, and will last until the end of the day on July 15.

The measure does not affect authorized professionals or government authorities, the decision adds. The purpose of this permit is that the traditional fireworks displays can take place on the night of July 13.

The measure was announced by the Prime Minister, Élisabeth Borne, in an interview with the newspaper le Parisin which he suggested that the government will launch “mass media” to maintain order on the night of the 13th and the feast of the 14th, which also falls on a Friday.

Borne acknowledged that there is “concern” among the public and local officials for the chance of new riots on the occasion of that special date.

Fireworks have been used regularly in recent years in attacks on police and especially in the recent riots that hit peripheral areas of major French cities.

These riots, which lasted for six consecutive nights, began after a 17-year-old man of Algerian descent was shot dead by a police officer at a checkpoint in the town of Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris, on June 27.

In recent days, the police have seized several shipments of fireworks with a questionable destination, the most important of which was a 2.7-tonne found near Rennes (northwest).