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Second night of riots on French Indian Ocean island Réunion

A second night of rioting erupted on the French Indian Ocean island of Réunion Wednesday. Hundreds of youths have clashed with police and attacked businesses after protests over the cost of living.

Reuters/Mano
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Three police officers and a night watchman were injured on Wednesday night, officials said.

A squadron of gendarmes has been sent to reinforce police on the island.

Thirty-one people were arrested, bringing the total to 49 in two days.

The trouble broke out in the main city Saint Denis, spreading to Le Port and Saint Benoît on the east of the island.

Gangs of about 200 young people attacked a shopping centre, a Peugeot showroom and other businesses, looting and setting fire to property.

They clashed with police, who fired teargas at them.

One police officer was seriously injured when a teargas grenade exploded in his hand, police sources said.

Unemployment hit a record high of 29.5 per cent in Réunion in 2011 and 52 per cent of the population live below the poverty line.

Sociologist Laurent Médéa lives in the riot-hit area of Le Chaudron.

Unemployment in deprived neighbourhoods among 15-25 year olds is 90 per cent, he told RFI.

“So it’s really catastrophic for these people,” he says. “They’re fighting for a job and to get a social house because in both situations they can’t afford to buy a house.”

Unemployment for the 100,000 whites from metropolitan France is only 2.5 per cent, according to Médéa. “More you are black more you have difficulties.”

Three years ago trade unions led protests against poverty and the cost of living and some riots took place after a major demonstration.

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