Violence rages in New Caledonia as France rushes emergency reinforcements to its Pacific territory

By BARBARA SURK and ALEX TURNBULL
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — Violence is raging across New Caledonia for the third consecutive day. France has imposed a state of emergency in the French Pacific territory. Authorities boosted security forces’ powers to quell deadly unrest in the archipelago, where some residents have long sought independence from France. French authorities in New Caledonia and the Interior Ministry in Paris reported on Thursday that five people, including two police officers, have been killed in the violence. The unrest came after protests earlier this week over voting reforms pushed by President Emmanuel Macron’s government turned deadly. At least sixty members of the security forces were injured and 214 people were arrested in Thursday’s clashes. That’s according to the territory’s top French official.