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Man blocks ambulance ‘because he needed a cig’

Two brothers have been sentenced to eight months in jail after blocking an ambulance which was rushing a 7-year-old to hospital near Paris. One of the pair blamed his actions on the fact that he hadn't had his first coffee and cigarette of the day.

Published: 1 June 2012 10:51 CEST

In Viry-Chatillon, south of Paris, a 7-year-old pupil swallowed a pen cap in school in February. The teacher called the emergency services, who rushed the child off to hospital. But on the way two brothers, 26-year-old Chakib and 22-year-old Rachid, overtook the ambulance, and blocking it with their Renault Twingo, French daily Le Parisien reports.

With heavy traffic going in the other direction, the ambulance, operated by the fire service, was unable to overtake the brothers. Using a loudspeaker, the rescuers attempted to communicate with the two men and explain they are carrying a small boy to hospital.

But instead of moving out of the way, the men started hurling insults at the firemen and make obscene gestures. Then they left their vehicle and started banging on the truck. One of the youths kicks the door while the other attempted to open it.

The firemen ended up calling the police and another rescue vehicle to save the boy.

On Thursday, the two men did not turn up for their trial in Evry, near Paris. The judge however read out their testimonies.

"I fucked up. I wasn’t fully awake and hadn’t yet had my first coffee and cigarette of the day. I didn’t understand there was a kid on board," said Rachid, "Usually I threaten the police, not firemen."

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Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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