He said 50 officers from police special forces would travel to Guadeloupe, in addition to 200 police officers sent from France’s mainland.<\/p>\n
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It comes after several days of protests and road blockades erupted into rioting.<\/p>\n
Mr Darmanin told France’s Le Parisien newspaper “some shots have been fired against police officers” in Guadeloupe and there had been looting.<\/p>\n
Footage on social media showed cars and buildings had been set on fire, with French media reporting that several buildings in the city centre of Pointe-a-Pitre, the island’s largest city, had been destroyed.<\/p>\n
Road blockades had put hospitals in a “very difficult situation for a few hours” with patients and supplies unable to reach them, Mr Darmanin said.<\/p>\n
“The state will stand firm,” he stressed.<\/p>\n
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So far at least 31 people have been arrested by the police.<\/p>\n
Guadeloupe Prefect Alexandre Rochatte has imposed a nightly curfew from 6pm to 5am.<\/p>\n
On Saturday he said some electrical facilities near dams had been damaged, which caused power cuts to some customers.<\/p>\n
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The protests were sparked by trade unions to denounce the coronavirus health pass required to access restaurants, cafes, cultural venues, sports arenas and for long-distance travel.<\/p>\n
They were also demonstrating against France’s mandatory vaccinations for healthcare workers.<\/p>\n
Mr Darmanin said around 80% of healthcare workers on the island had been vaccinated.<\/p>\n