Dozens take part in fresh anti-Muslim protest in Corsica after attack on prayer hall (VIDEO)
Around 100 people marched in the Corsican capital of Ajaccio on Saturday, shouting anti-Muslim slogans. The protest happened in the same low-income neighborhood that violence erupted in earlier this week.
Plus d'une centaine de manifestants à présent pic.twitter.com/VpLmfJH69x
— Julien Cholin (@jcholin) December 26, 2015
More than a hundred people were reportedly seen in the streets, shouting, "we are still here."
Rassemblement en cours au cœur du quartier des Jardins de l'empereur à #Ajaccio. "On est chez nous" insistent-ils. pic.twitter.com/YEqUKztGPS
— Julien Cholin (@jcholin) December 26, 2015
The demonstrators used firecrackers and shouted offensive nationalist slogans, witnesses said on social media.
Local authorities asked the protesters to stop their action, with the prefect of Corsica, Christophe Marmand, saying that their actions "give a disastrous image of Corsica," Le Figaro reported.
Pétards, slogans, tags… "putain d'arabes de merde sortez!" lancent certains manifestants. #Ajacciopic.twitter.com/Q1mtqKhcOx
— Julien Cholin (@jcholin) December 26, 2015
The Jardins de l'Empereur housing estate’s glass entrance doors were smashed, as protesters shouted "this is our home," AFP reported. A heavy police presence accompanied the march.
Un dispositif conséquent de #gendarmes mobiles et CRS déployé aux Jardins de l'Empereur #Ajaccio#Corsepic.twitter.com/YnRgvCZxUl
— France 3 Corse (@FTViaStella) December 26, 2015
READ MORE: Muslim prayer hall damaged, copies of Koran burnt in overnight rampage in Corsica
Saturday’s anti-Muslim demo on the French Mediterranean island followed earlier protests in the region, in which a Muslim prayer hall was vandalized and books including several copies of the Koran were set on fire.