Two men killed in police operation in France's New Caledonia

FRANCE 24 English

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00:00Gunshots have just been heard near this police roadblock on Thursday.

00:05The preceding night was stressful for the Saint-Louis neighborhood of Le Mondeur, marked

00:10by confrontations between residents and security forces.

00:14During the night, two men wanted by police were killed.

00:18At 11 p.m. there were the first gunshots.

00:23It then continued all night.

00:26After the gunshots, we heard dogs barking in the neighborhood.

00:30I thought that meant that they were passing nearby.

00:34The national police on Wednesday launched an operation targeting multiple people wanted

00:39for armed robbery.

00:41Many rifles were seized.

00:44According to the public prosecutor, the police were then fired at before returning fire.

00:51They used very large caliber hunting rifles.

00:53They fired at the police to kill them.

00:56The police fired back.

00:58They followed the standard guidelines for self-defense.

01:02The two victims were members of the Kanak tribe of Saint-Louis.

01:07Some pro-independence groups have referred to the deaths as summary executions.

01:12Others denounce a lack of dialogue.

01:14We were trying to find a solution.

01:18We needed more time.

01:19What is the state trying to do?

01:21Where is the rule of law?

01:25The police inspector general's office has opened an inquest.

01:29Since violence erupted on the island in May, 13 people have been killed.

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