Elements of the Special Supporting Unit (SSU) were called in on the evening of Monday, January 31 to restore order in Cité CHA, Terre-Rouge. A heated argument between members of a center and the inhabitants of this locality degenerated into a fight. The result is 5 injured among the inhabitants and 1 vehicle damaged. The inhabitants of this locality are opposed to the operation of this center because according to them, this center attracts undesirable people.
It was around 5:50 pm on Monday 31 January that the police station of Terre-Rouge was alerted for 1 case of serious disturbance. 3 members of a family and 2 persons of another family were assaulted by members of an association that operates a center in this locality. Several people gathered in front of the center. This situation lasted until 11:20 pm and it took the intervention of the men of the SSU for calm to be restored.
Immediately after being alerted of these violent incidents, police officers from the Terre-Rouge police station went to the site. They were joined by officers from the Divisional Supporting Unit, the Emergency Response Service, the Criminal Investigation Division and elements of the Field Intelligence Office. As the situation deteriorated, reinforcements were requested for the SSU presence on the ground.
In a statement made at the Terre-Rouge police station, a 21-year-old youth explained that he and his mother were on the roof of their house and witnessed a group of people fighting in front of the center. At one point, 3 of these people climbed on his car, a Mitsubishi that was parked in front of his door, in order to climb to the roof of his house. Armed with swords, sticks and iron bars, these men threatened mother and son before assaulting them.
Another brother, aged 18, tried to intervene and was manhandled. His mother, brother and himself were insulted. They were accused of having filmed the fight in front of the center.
The hood of the owner of the Mitsubishi was damaged by a stone throw. As for one of their neighbors, who is also the director of the center, he shouted at the three men “pa ti kapav zet li enba touy li”. The three attackers then left with the neighbor in question.
The victims, with a form 58, went to the northern hospital for treatment. Men from the SSU remained in this locality until the early hours of Tuesday morning, February 1, to reassure the inhabitants.
