Firemen being attacked

Yobs and anarchists. I reckon they'd change their tune if they needed a fire putting out.

despicable- totally counter-productive, senseless- same for ambulance crews

Was this in the banlieues of a large city like Paris or Marseille Lemongrove?

Emergency service workers often come under attack in this country- I signed a petition last year to make an attack on them a specific crime, as is the case for police officers, I don’t know if it got through parliament.

Yes I heard that piece too and think it was in the banlieus of Paris but it seemed to be a general problem. My dear late French penfriend's son is a fireman in Arras-he's exactly the sort of man you would want in a crisis.
Such numpties attacking them. I have no idea how this could be stopped but arresting a few of the perpetrators and making an example of them might "encourage les autres" perhaps?

There's nothing new about attacking firemen , even ambulance men sometimes. At least ten years ago I worked with a young woman whose hubby was a fire fighter and they were subject to attacks even then. Its absolutely disgraceful but I don't know what the answer is.

I wonder when it started though.....and why?

I read about it in our french local paper - everyone is appalled here too.
What makes it worse (imo) is that most of the french firemen are unpaid volunteers, they just do it from a feeling of responsibility towards their community.

Do you think that is part of the problem, viewing the vounteers as ‘narks’ working for the authorities unpaid?

In fact, paid or unpaid, it’s a shocking and mindless thing to do.

I agree it’s unacceptable.

Those areas of Paris are home to many immigrants and the poverty and unemployment rates match the high levels of hopelessness and frustration. It’s a tinderbox