Riots in Northern Paris train station

Is the Parisian atmosphere so hot that anything can trigger a wave of riots? Or is it just about some endemic pest? Time will tell.

A passenger was controlled in the subway station, Gare du Nord. He didn't have a ticket. His answer: he attacked and hurt the two people from the Parisian subway company controlling him, one on the face, the other on the shoulder.

Policemen tried to intervene and arrest the guy. But about 50 "youths" opposed the police. Riots followed during two hours, opposing about 200-300 "youths" to about 50 policemen. The whole station was blocked. Rioters yelled "Sarkozy, hypocrite". 7 "youths" were arrested. At about 8:30 pm, it still went on.

More images here.

Update: More from American media:

Clashes erupt at Paris train station

Riot police firing tear gas and brandishing batons clashed Tuesday with bands of youths who shattered windows and looted shops at a major Paris train station, officials said. Nine people were arrested.

Officials said about 100 people were involved in the melee at Gare du Nord, one of Paris' most important transport hubs. Officers and police dogs fired tear gas and charged at groups of marauding youths, some of them wearing hoods and swinging metal bars.

The youths responded by throwing trash cans and other objects at the officers. A group of youths smashed the windows of a sporting goods store and looted boxes of shoes. Others attacked automatic drink dispensers and set garbage cans on fire.

(...)

Youths at the station said Tuesday's clashes started when police manhandled a young person of North African origin. Some claimed that the youth's arm was broken in the confrontation.

(...)

Officials from Paris' RATP public transport authority said the violence started after a man without a Metro ticket punched two inspectors during a routine ticket check. Youths also attacked the inspectors and later turned on police patrolling the station, officials said.

Of course we weren't told on French TV that the man who started it all was of North African origin.

Update 2: Thanks a million to RV for the video