During an arson attack on the night of May 19, Romanian Romani huts burned down on a highway in Argenteuil. Nobody got hurt.
The residents were surprised in their sleep by Molotov cocktails, which set the camp on fire and largely burned down the huts. Florin, one of the residents, says: “I was lying on a mattress outside. I didn't sleep to keep watch. ”He saw four petrol bottles come flying off the highway bridge. Then he told the others to come out and called the fire department.
The fire spread quickly. Another resident, Imed, says they didn't even have time to get water out of the Seine to try to extinguish the fire. A Molotov cocktail hit the generator and there was an explosion. About 70 huts burned down. There are only seven or eight left. The fire service mission lasted five hours. Nine people were accommodated in a sports hall.
It is the fourth incident. The first events occurred on May 1st and 2nd. There was another attack in the night from 4th to 5th. However, the residents were able to extinguish the fire themselves. Someone has been on guard ever since it started. According to Florin, the children have already brought them to safety. He also mentions that all of their supplies have been burned and that he doesn't know what to give his children to eat.
The main thing now is to find new accommodation for the residents of the destroyed camp. Given the current health situation, it is even more difficult than usual to find a place for them, the supporters say.
