REUTERS – Rioters burnt more than 50 cars and several buildings in the early hours of Friday (July 6) as violent protests continued to ravage the western French city of Nantes for the third night in a row.

The tensions started on Tuesday (July 3) after police fatally shot a man who allegedly tried to flee a road check by putting his car on reverse.

Riot police and firefighters battled with fire in the La Bottière neighbourhood and in the northern part of the city.

Fires also damaged a gas station and a high school, and police were able to extinguish the blaze before it could cause further damage and harm someone.

The school’s front desk agent and his wife, who resided near school grounds, were able to escape the fire unharmed.