ROMANS-SUR-ISERE, France (AP) - A French police officer was shot and wounded during clashes with youths that broke out after a teenager died while fleeing police, authorities said Tuesday.

The officer appeared to have been shot in the leg with a hunting rifle, said the police prefecture in Romans-sur-Isere, a southeastern town located 60 miles from Lyon in the Rhone Valley on the edge of the Alps. The officer's life was not in danger. Dents from bullets and buckshot were also found in police vehicles nearby.

Police used tear gas and rubber pellets to push back some 50 youths during clashes late Monday and early Tuesday. Several cars were burned and about 15 shop windows were smashed.

After nightfall Tuesday, some 300 riot police officers and gendarmes took up positions around the center of town to prevent a second night of clashes. Some teams of officers were brought in from neighboring regions.

The violence broke out after a 16-year-old died by driving a stolen car into a wall while fleeing police. Four other minors in the car were lightly injured.

Accidents involving police and youths have been particularly sensitive in France since riots in 2005 that were sparked by the deaths of two teens electrocuted in a power substation while hiding from police.

Jean-Pierre Nahon, a prosecutor in the regional capital, Valence, said a police watchdog agency will investigate latest incident.

Nahon said that, according to a preliminary investigation, the five teenagers had stolen the car overnight and were driving at high speed through the center of Romans-sur-Isere when police began chasing them. The young driver took a sharp turn and lost control of the car, running into a wall.

Dents from bullets and buckshot were also found in police vehicles nearby.

GreyUhu wrote:

I hope the French support their "thin blue line."

wrote:

..."The men didn't say anything to her (before she was sprayed)," Biehl said. "There was nothing left at the scene or anything that makes us believe this is a biased crime."...

Klausbarbie wrote:

You think so? There are plenty of videos about similar action in Kreuzberg, Germany.
The only difference between these events happening in France as opposed to Germany is the fact that German police don't enter into such situations without bullet-proof vests. The German police are somewhat better organized than the French

The officer appeared to have been shot in the leg

TheCrazyKraut wrote:

I really don't understand why the french accept those people and their behaviour in their country..

if similar things would occur in germany, the reaction would be very different.

US_Kindergarden wrote:

How many hundred US cops are killed in action each year, by the way ?

In France, I would say less than 10, yearly. So, just close your mouthes and continue to live in your dirty walled suburbs.

US_Kindergarden wrote:

How many hundred US cops are killed in action each year, by the way?
In France, I would say less than 10, yearly.

With_Attitude wrote:

...I suppose they should also wear bulletproof pants, hey, genius?

How many hundred US cops are killed in action each year, by the way ?

The violence broke out after a 16-year-old died by driving a stolen car into a wall while fleeing police

GreyUhu wrote:

This action against the police is intolerable.

Rioters should be met with live steel in the form of bayonets, not clubs and shields. There used to be a thing called "The Riot Act" which allowed the police to use deadly force. The police would invoke the "Riot Act" by public announcement of it's deployment. If the riot did not disperse within 10 minutes, they were allowed to "shoot to kill".

In any event, when the rioters shoot at police, the gloves come off. There are no innocents then.

Great points Grey Uhu, but your dealing with pussies... the french. The french goverment is already sponsoring the muslim brotherhood and their efforts to dessiminate the radical version of islam in france.

There are a few decent french on this forum.. they are welcome to come on over to America when france falls in the next decade or so. The rest can enjoy the mess they created.

I hope the French support their "thin blue line."

US_Kindergarden wrote:

How many hundred US cops are killed in action each year, by the way ?

In France, I would say less than 10, yearly. So, just close your mouthes and continue to live in your dirty walled suburbs.

US_Kindergarden wrote:

How many hundred US cops are killed in action each year, by the way ?

In France, I would say less than 10, yearly. So, just close your mouthes and continue to live in your dirty walled suburbs.