French Gendarmerie in Noumea Photo: AFP / Theo Rouby
In New Caledonia, violent unrest and clashes between the rioters and law enforcement units have killed one more person.
The clashes took place in the small mining town of Thio, generally described as a pro-independence stronghold on the eastern coast of the main island of Grande Terre.
A gendarmerie armored vehicle Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur
The police operation started on Thursday morning to remove the ongoing roadblocks in the area.
Nouméa public prosecutor Yves Dupas said the incident took place on Thursday as French gendarmerie were responding to gunfire from a group of rioters on a bridge roadblock leading to Thio.
One of the two injured alleged shooters was hit in the head and pronounced dead upon arrival as he was being transported to the Nouméa General Hospital, Dupas said in a release.
The new death toll from the violent unrest that started on May 13, 2023, now stands at 11, including nine civilians and two gendarmes.