With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

French ministry accused of covering up Bastille Day violence

The French government has been accused of covering up the extent of violence during last week's Bastille Day festivities.

The interior ministry said that around 500 cars were burned by gangs of youths around the country on the night of July 13. However it has refused to issue figures for July 14, saying only that it was "relatively calm".

Journalists on local and national newspapers who tried to find out more were told by police that strict instructions had been issued from the ministry in Paris "not to communicate on the incidents of July 14".

Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)