driving
Another speed camera destroyed by fire on motorway in southern France
The incident follows several recent attacks on speed cameras
Published
A speed camera in southern France was set on fire, following a series of vandalism incidents targeting them across the country in recent weeks.
The fixed camera was located on the A750 motorway, near the exit at Saint-Paul-et-Valmalle, in Montarnaud, Hérault.
The incident took place on October 18, with the alarm raised at around 19:00 after motorists reported seeing flames coming from the camera of Hérault's fire service, according to Actu.fr.
Firefighters brought the blaze under control, while gendarmes from the Clermont-l’Hérault motorway patrol attended the scene. The equipment was completely destroyed.
Investigation underway
The circumstances of the fire remain unclear.
Hypotheses include that the person responsible may have approached the camera on foot by climbing the embankment from a slip road below, according to Actu.fr.
Other possible explanations include a connection to protests in Montpellier or anger among particular professional groups. No evidence has yet established a motive or linked the incident to any specific group.
However, the action follows a winder wave of damage to speed cameras across France.
Three cameras were recently vandalised in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, near Agen, while another in Doubs was damaged for a second time.
In September, farmers’ union Coordination Rurale also targeted speed cameras in several departments during protests over the price of agricultural diesel. Between 60 and 70 cameras were put out of service overnight on September 23-24.
