A violent clash erupted overnight in Limoges, central France, after a group of masked individuals armed with iron bars, Molotov cocktails, and fireworks launched a coordinated attack on a major highway and battled police.

Authorities suspect the unrest is linked to gang rivalries.

According to officials, between 100 and 150 assailants attempted to block the RN141 highway in a show of force that turned into a confrontation with security forces. The incident left 10 police officers injured, though no civilian casualties were immediately reported.

Local police union official Laurent Nadeau described the attackers as heavily armed and highly organized. “They came equipped with stones, iron rods, baseball bats, and incendiary devices,” he told AFP.

In response, police deployed tear gas and crowd-dispersal munitions to regain control of the scene.

Limoges Mayor Emile Roger Lombertie denounced the violence, referring to the group as an “urban guerrilla unit.” He emphasized the planned nature of the ambush, saying, “This wasn’t a protest. There was no cause, no demand just destruction and a deliberate attempt to assert territorial dominance.”

The ambush comes just days after unrest broke out in the nearby Val de l’Aurence district on Bastille Day, July 14.

The mayor described the area as a marginalized neighborhood plagued by poverty and lawlessness and noted that many of the youths involved are from immigrant backgrounds.

With France’s peak tourist season underway, the attack has heightened security concerns. The interior ministry has since announced plans to deploy a special security unit to Limoges to restore order and prevent further violence.