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VILLIERS-LE-BEL, France — More than 1,000 police officers swooped in on housing pro jects Monday outside of Paris, detaining 35 people in pre- dawn raids meant to flush out those who took part in violent riots late last year, officials said.
Critics denounced the raids as governmental theater to boost support before next month’s municipal elections.
President Nicolas Sarkozy had vowed to better police the neglected neighborhoods, populated largely by families of immigrant background.
Police targeted areas where officers had come under gunfire in November’s riots. Although no officers were killed then, the use of firearms was seen as a dramatic escalation in violence targeting police.
