French government bans firework sales ahead of July 14 celebrations

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) - The French government has banned the sales of fireworks ahead of the July 14 Bastille Day celebrations.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne announced a ban on the sale, possession, and transport of fireworks during the weekend, in order to protect the citizens from violence.

She also guaranteed "massive measures to protect the French during those two days," in an interview with the daily Le Parisien on Saturday.

The government decree was issued on Sunday, prohibiting the sale, possession, and transport of the fireworks on July 13 and 14.

Only professionals who will organize fireworks will be allowed to carry them.

Bastille Day is a national holiday in France which kicks off with a military parade and concludes with fireworks.

The ban comes in the backdrop of protests that rocked France late last month, when a police officer fatally shot Nahel M., a 17-year-old boy of Algerian descent, during a traffic check after he allegedly ignored orders to stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre.

Thousands took to the streets in France after Nahel's killing.

Vehicles and public buildings including town halls and schools were set on fire, and police arrested 4,000 people, mostly teenagers, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told the Senate last week.

Police also seized tons of fireworks' stocks in several cities including the capital and Rennes, which they said could be used in fresh protests.​​​​​​​