French cops gas heroes

[Drizzt]

French cops gas heroes

By DAVID WOODING

BRITISH war heroes on a religious pilgrimage told last night of their shock when French police attacked them with tear gas in a hotel bar.

Scores of servicemen and their guests — some in wheelchairs — were stunned as 30 cops threw three gas canisters at them in the town of Lourdes, renowned for miracle cures.

One member of the official delegation of Catholic soldiers said: “All hell broke loose. People ran out coughing and choking. Some braved the fumes to help those in wheelchairs get out.

“They were in a terrible state afterwards. It all happened without a single word of warning.â€

Police chiefs in Lourdes — visited by hundreds of thousands each year for its healing waters — said the 2am incident happened because the pilgrims were breaking a local by-law that bans late-night boozing.

But one soldier said: “Nobody told us to go to bed or keep the noise down. One minute everyone was having a convivial time and the next we were under attack.

“The whole episode was a disgrace. We were on a religious pilgrimage, yet we were treated like football hooligans.â€

David Kelly, chaplain of the Royal Military College at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire, added: “There was no reason for this sudden onslaught.

“Everyone was celebrating the end of a very special trip when the police burst in and mayhem broke out.â€

Heroes of Iraq and other conflicts were among 250 pilgrims enjoying a nightcap at the Hotel La Solitude in the town in the French Pyrenees.

They included a group from The Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, senior clergy plus sick and disabled visitors.

One soldier said: “We were all singing away quite merrily.

“It was a disgrace the way the cops acted. You’d think we were rioting.

“Why couldn’t they just ask us to keep the noise down or tell us all to head off to bed first? But nobody said a word.â€

Lourdes police commissioner Didier Ribeyrolle admitted the use of tear gas was “inappropriateâ€

But he said: “The hotel showed a lax attitude to our by-laws. Some patrons may have been shocked by the methods used, but the rules must be respected.â€

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2003261244,00.html

 

[Boats]

I see life carries on as always in the Old Vichy France. Is it just me or does this epic battle against British cripples herald the first military or paramilitary victory by France this century against foreigners?

 

[mattd]

I declare war with the french.

 

[Wildalaska]

declare war with the french.

Why bother they dont fight back...

WildcestbonAlaska

 

[Mike Irwin]

It's pretty obviously why this was done.

Those British soldiers were an embarassment.

To the French.

Because it reminded the French that they rolled over and played dead for the Nazis in World War II and had to be liberated by the hated British and Americans.

 

[sanchezero]

Well, they had to gas 'em by suprise. It wouldn't do for a bunch of chairbornes to beat the crap outta their cops.

 

[agricola]

This is news to me. One would have thought this would be - rightfully - all over all the domestic news channels and papers (after all, the desecration of the cemetary was). I'm half way through a search of all our, and most of the French, newspapers available online and I cant find anything.

Bear it in mind that the Sun habitually fibs when it wants to make a point. That paper is beneath even a rag, shame on it.

 

[winwun]

Perhaps our cousins are into Urban Legends.

 

[Monte Harrison]

Well, they had to gas 'em by suprise. It wouldn't do for a bunch of chairbornes to beat the crap outta their cops.

Exactly what I was thinking. They needed to clear the bar to enforce the law, but none of the gendarmes had the cojones to go in and personally tell a group of Brit badasses that they had to stop partying.

 

[Poodleshooter]

Why bother they dont fight back...

Well, to be fair, the French did fight. They fought us when we landed in North Africa.
Vive la France!

 

[Mike Irwin]

"Bear it in mind that the Sun habitually fibs when it wants to make a point. That paper is beneath even a rag, shame on it."

But it is SO entertaining!

 

[cordex]

I'm inclined to doubt this report. As ag pointed out, this kind of event would be everywhere if it had any element of truth. Did a quick search and found nothing.

 

[OF]

BS meter twitching like crazy.

- Gabe

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Since when is the SUN a respected newspaper and just how was it that only the SUN had this story as an exclusive when none of the other news services knew nothing about it? As noted, this sort of event would have made huge news.

Look at some of the other stories they carry...
Heir 'n a G-string - where Prince Harry was caught in a pink G-string

'Explosive' cock blown up - police blew up rooster thought to be carrying explosives

 

[mattd]

Sounds like a joke because of the comments by the police.

 

[Al Norris]

Couldn't find any news at all about this!