"Compared with last year, 10% fewer cars were set on fire," Darmanin told reporters, specifying that the number of cars set on fire across France on the night between December 31 and January 1 this year was 745.
"A total of 380 arrests were conducted, which is also 10% fewer than last year," the minister added.
Last Friday, Darmanin said that over 90,000 police officers will be on duty on New Year’s night to ensure security in the country amid an escalated level of terror threat.
This photograph taken on December 24, 2023 shows several cars set on fire during the night in a parking in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps, western France, after a young man was hit by a police car on December 23, 2023.
© AFP 2023 / GUILLAUME SOUVANT