There is unrest in the Corsican harbour town of Calvi. For days, an acrid smell of burnt plastic and petrol has lingered over the marina. Where excursion boats normally wait for tourists, burnt-out wrecks are now floating in the water. Between 3 and 4 June, five inflatable boats for excursions and the luxury catamaran "Dolce Vita" were set on fire. The series continued on Friday with a fire at a car hire company at Calvi airport.
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Proximity to announcement of new investigation unit
The arson attacks occurred at a volatile time. At the same time as the incidents, France's Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin visited the Corsican capital Bastia. There, on 5 June, he announced the establishment of a new regional investigation unit to combat organised crime. The focus will be on extortion, drug trafficking and arson.
Dramatic scenes on the water
The series of attacks may even have continued on the open sea. On 5 June, firefighters noticed a column of smoke over the water during an exercise in the port of Bastia. A sailing boat was on fire. The 50-year-old owner, who lives on the boat, was only just able to save himself on a dinghy. From there, he was rescued unharmed by the emergency services. Whether there is a connection to the other fires is currently under investigation.
Backgrounds remain unclear
The exact motives for the arson attacks are not yet known. However, the proximity in time to the announcement of intensified investigations into organised crime gives rise to speculation. Investigations will have to show whether this was a deliberate attempt at intimidation or other criminal behaviour.
Uncertainty in the tourism industry
For the operators of excursion boats and charter companies, the incidents represent a severe setback at the start of the tourist season. The loss of several boats has hit them economically. In addition, potential holidaymakers are put off by the news of the arson attacks. The local authorities now face the challenge of restoring a sense of security while at the same time pressing ahead with the investigations.
