French riot police to deploy at town where police station was attacked

French riot police to deploy at town where police station was attacked

French riot police will go to the southern town of Cavaillon, near Avignon, after the Cavaillon police station was attacked following an anti drug-trafficking operation, said French interior minister Bruno Retailleau on Wednesday.

WHY IT MATTERS:

France and other major European cities are trying to clamp down on drug gangs, and the fatal shootings that often result from inter-gang warfare.

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In May, two prison guards were killed after gunmen ambushed a prison van to free drug dealer Mohamed Amra, known as 'The Fly', while Belgian authorities have also blamed gangs from Marseille as being partly responsible for a surge in shootings in Brussels.

CONTEXT:

Retailleau is also keen to show that Prime Minister Michel Barnier's new government is taking a tough approach on violent crime, after Retailleau was appointed as interior minister in September.

KEY QUOTE:

"The French State will not be intimidated and we will intensify our battle against narco-banditism," said Retailleau in a statement.