© AP Photo/ Francois Mori
On Sunday, the French Interior Ministry said that 650 vehicles were set on fire on the New Year's Eve compared to 602 cars last year. The number of torched vehicles has decreased by 20 percent over the past five years, the ministry noted.
The following day, the Parisien newspaper reported, citing the ministry's spokesman, Pierre-Henry Brandet, that as much as 945 vehicles were set alight or damaged as a result of arson from 6 p.m. [17:00 GMT] on December 31 to 6:00 a.m. on January 1, which shows that the number of torched vehicles has increased by 17.5 percent compared to the last year.
Car-burning on the New Year's Eve has become an annual "tradition" in French suburbs since urban riots in 2005.
car automakers including some dealerships and car owners will be more than pleased.