Police fire on car in Paris square

[Bosonic]

Source: BBC

Police in France are searching for the driver of a vehicle that tried to crash through a barricade for the Tour de France which ends in Paris later.

The incident on the Champs Elysees took place at about 08:00 local time as the security barriers were beginning to go up.

Officers opened fire on the car to try to stop it but it drove away.

BBC Paris correspondent Hugh Schofield reports there is no suggestion of terrorism as a motive.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33668196

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Paris police open fire on car at Tour de France barricades

PARIS (AP) — Paris police officers opened fire on a car that tried to crash through barricades about eight hours before the final arrival of the Tour de France cycling race on Sunday, a police official said.

The car escaped with its two occupants apparently unharmed after coming under fire around 11 a.m. (0900 GMT; 5 a.m. EDT) in the Place de la Concorde, where the cyclists make their final triumphant rounds to conclude the race, said Luc Poignant, a spokesman with the SGP police union. Police are hunting for the people in the car.

Tour de France race director Thierry Gouvenou said that he didn't have much information about the incident, but he didn't foresee any impact on the race.

The final stage of the Tour de France is due to begin at 4:35 p.m. (1435 GMT; 10:35 a.m. EDT), leaving from Sevres, a town southwest of Paris. The riders are then due to arrive in the French capital at around 5:30 p.m. (1530 GMT; 11:30 a.m. EDT) and do 10 laps around the Champs-Elysees before finishing at Place de la Concorde at about 7 p.m. (1700 GMT; 1 p.m. EDT).

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/40e4207e5e494945bddd18ce2506cb0a/paris-police-open-fire-car-tour-de-france-barricades

[Divernan]

1. Police open fire on car in public square? How macho! How American! How reckless!

No one had been injured and the car drove away, but the police opened fire. Can this be the American influence of shoot-em-up, who-gives-a-shit-about-innocent-bystanders, policing?

I was surprised to learn the gendarmes were packing heat, but I googled for photos of them, and that seems to be standard issue for all of them, not just those designated riot police. I can understand that, given the violence and riots they have to deal with, but in this particular situation, firing in a public square, was a dangerously disproportionate response. IF they had shot well enough to hit the driver, an out of control car would then be a danger to others.

Had a couple of instances in my area where small town cops (suburban Pittsburgh) gave high speed chase to stolen cars through residential neighborhoods and innocent bystanders were hurt. Not all police in the U.S. are into such reckless actions and lethal over reactions regularly reported across the U.S. In a few places, police are still a positive force for keeping the peace and not providing non-violent fodder for profiteering private prisons. Here are some Mayberry-esque examples from the police log in Unalaska, Alaska. http://kucb.org/community/blotter/?page=2

Suspicious Person/Activity
Wednesday 08 July 2015, 10:11 a.m.
Officer warned a man who was urinating in the bushes across from UDPS that to do so was a violation of City ordinance. The man apologized for having been unable to wait any longer.

Traffic Crime
Saturday 11 July 2015, 7:52 p.m.
Caller said she was sick and tired of the way taxi drivers drive, and reported that one of them had just cut her off. An officer contacted the suspect driver, who predictably denied any wrongdoing, and issued a warning.

Lost Property
Saturday 11 July 2015, 4:06 p.m.
A wallet, somewhere between Safeway and the Valley.
Assistance Rendered

Saturday 11 July 2015, 2:27 p.m.
Officers assisted crew with a Bald Eagle that had flown into and become stuck in an RSW tank on board a fishing vessel.
Assistance Rendered

Saturday 11 July 2015, 1:21 p.m.
Officers responded to multiple locations listed as the residence of a man from whom a 911 hang-up call had been received, only to find that the man whom they sought was not present at any of them. The man eventually phoned police to report that he had accidentally pocket-dialed 911.

Traffic Crime
Friday 10 July 2015, 11:49 p.m.
Woman reported the driver of a blue or white flatbed swerving on the roadway. An officer located the suspect driver, who immediately denied any poor driving and called the woman a liar. The officer advised the man to drive safely.

Suspicious Person/Activity
Friday 10 July 2015, 6:25 p.m.
Woman reported she had recently lost two iPods and believes they are now for sale in a local store. She provided the serial numbers for her lost devices. An officer confirmed that the devices for sale were not those the woman had previously lost.

Assistance Rendered
Friday 10 July 2015, 2:53 p.m.
Officer located a man who had failed to pay for his fuel at Gas-n-Go, and advised him to return and pay his bill.

[LiberalElite]

2. IMO the cops in Unalaska, AK are

more exceptional than the ones opening up fire in France.

[Divernan]

3. That is sadly true!