Overturned Trays, Covered Cameras and Fires: Riot Begins at Lyon Detention Centre

The unrest at Lyon Saint-Exupéry administrative detention centre began around midday, when several detainees overturned their meal trays in the cafeteria. By late afternoon, one detainee had set fire to a mattress after covering the surveillance cameras.

The mattress fire heavily damaged the room, according to a police source cited by Le Figaro. Two other fires were later started, involving another mattress and a rubbish bin, but firefighters quickly brought them under control. Fire crews came from the airport as well as Meyzieu and Décines.

Smoke slightly intoxicated a police officer and a security guard, and both were hospitalized. The detainees then refused to re-enter the building and spent the night outside before returning early the next morning.

Several police sources told Le Figaro that the administrative situation of one or two detainees had triggered the riot. A law changed last spring now allows detention to be extended from a maximum of 90 days to 210 days for people considered dangerous.

The Alliance police union said the longer periods were increasing tensions inside detention centres. It also criticized a lack of staff and what it called the excessive exposure of border police officers.

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The room was badly burned.