A video circulating on Chinese social media platforms on Friday captured a concerning incident involving a tourist bus in Marseille, France. The footage depicted a shattered windshield and a tourist on the bus alleging that black-clad rioters attempted to board the bus and forcibly remove passengers.
According to Hangzhou Transportation 918, a Chinese media group, a couple identified as Mr. Wang and Mrs. Ma were passengers on the bus, which was en route to a local hotel in Marseille. As the bus approached a section of road less than two kilometers away from the hotel, a local child signaled the driver to halt further progress.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of Chinese tourists visiting Marseille and the potential risks they may encounter during their travels. While the exact circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation, it underscores the need for increased vigilance and security measures to ensure the well-being of tourists in the city.
Chinese authorities and travel agencies are closely monitoring the situation and are expected to provide necessary guidance and support to Chinese tourists planning to visit Marseille or other destinations. As investigations progress, it is crucial for local authorities to address any security issues and reassure tourists of their safety while visiting the region.
However, the driver did not realize the seriousness of the situation and continued driving.
“As I was sitting at the very front of the bus, I clearly saw 5-6 masked rioters start throwing stones at the bus. Later, the driver continued driving for a distance, but more and more rioters appeared ahead, and they even placed blockades in the middle of the road, trying to stop our bus.”
During the journey, the rear door of the bus had already been smashed open.
“At that time, one masked rioter had taken the opportunity to board the bus, holding a stone in his hand. However, because there were many people in the bus, and several adult men were resisting in the back, he eventually jumped off,” Wang said.
According to Wang’s description, the driver of the bus was a Polish man in his 40s. “The driver was relatively calm. Although the windshield of the driver’s seat had been smashed, he still made an emergency turn and drove the vehicle to a safe zone 2-3 kilometers away. The bus was severely damaged, with many windows shattered and the navigation system damaged.”
At the time, all the passengers on the bus were Chinese tourists, except for the driver, and some of them were injured in the incident.
“My wife and I were sitting at the very front, so luckily we were not injured. Five to six Chinese tourists on the bus were hit by stones and suffered minor injuries. Later, after arriving at the hotel, everyone was too scared to go out,” Wang said.
The group chose to call the local police for help, and the police said, “The rioters were attacking nearby police officers that night and happened to encounter the passing bus, and then attacked the bus.”
The couple originally planned to make up for their honeymoon by travelling to France. They departed from Hangzhou and arrived in France on the early morning of June 28, local time, after visiting Italy.
The couple booked the trip with a well-known Chinese travel agency, at a cost of 23,000 yuan per person for a 13-day itinerary. They were supposed to depart from Marseille to Paris the next day. However, due to the sudden violent incident, the route was changed, and they chose to go directly to Switzerland.
“I was not feeling well physically… I only slept for 3-4 hours after arriving in Switzerland from France, and I didn’t dare close my eyes for the past few days,” Ma said, according to Hangzhou Transportation 918.
Violence and looting hit France in a fourth night of protests as police, who were deployed in force, made more than 1,300 arrests and the country braced for more clashes as the funeral began Saturday of the teenager who was killed by an officer during a traffic stop, AFP reported.
The French government said the violence had “lessened” compared to previous nights, but the interior ministry still reported 1,311 arrests nationwide overnight.
The Chinese Embassy in France issued a statement on Friday reminding Chinese citizens in France to strengthen safety precautions and avoid going to areas where protests, demonstrations, and violent conflicts may occur.