France faced widespread unrest during New Year’s Eve celebrations, with nearly 1,000 vehicles set ablaze and over 400 arrests made nationwide.

Despite the deployment of 90,000 police and gendarmes, incidents of violence, including mortar attacks on law enforcement, persisted.

In Lyon, a two-year-old child was injured by a firework mortar, while in Strasbourg, a 15-year-old tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the violence, attributing it to societal "ensauvagement" and calling for stronger judicial and educational measures to address the root causes.

The night also saw significant seizures of illegal fireworks and arrests linked to urban violence and vandalism.

Authorities continue to grapple with the recurring challenges of New Year’s Eve unrest.