PARIS, France, — French police conducted simultaneous raids today at the headquarters of two Kurdish associations in Villiers-le-Bel and Evry, Ile de France, arresting at least six people including a prominent Kurdish politician. Five others were injured during violent clashes with police.
The officers arrested and handcuffed 4 Kurds as the result of the raid in Villiers-le-Bel. At least thirty other Kurds, including children and women were locked inside the building during the operation.
Among those arrested was Nedim Seven, a Kurdish activist known in the Kurdish European Diaspora, Bülent Atmaca, Rahmi Arıcand and a woman, Gülay Aydemir.
Dozens of Kurds gathered outside the headquarters of the Association to denounce the police operation. Clashes broke out in Villiers-le-Bel, as demonstrators tried to occupied the train station in protest.
Traffic was disrupted, bins were set alight and three helicopters kept flying over the station. The police used tear gas and batons, injured at least five demonstrators.
The police conducted another raid in Evry, angering the Kurdish community living in this region.
At least 66 Kurds were arrested in France since early 2010. In the first months of 2011 already 15 Kurds have been detained for political reasons.