Two Arrested at La Louise After Petrol Station Ransacked in Curfew Unrest

Two young men have been arrested after a petrol station in La Louise, a residential area in central Mauritius, was ransacked and the road leading through it was deliberately blocked during a night of civil unrest that prompted a nationwide curfew.

Police units from La Louise were reinforced by several specialist divisions, including the Special Mobile Force (SMF), the Divisional Support Unit (DSU), the Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU). Together, they maintained their positions through the night until calm was restored.

The two individuals taken into custody were found in possession of Molotov cocktails along with other objects, according to ION News reporters who were on the ground just after midnight. According to information gathered by the outlet, police have already identified several suspected accomplices and are actively searching for them.

Officers on the scene told the ION News journalist that by the time calm returned, many of them had already been on duty for more than 18 consecutive hours, reflecting the scale of the deployment required to contain the unrest across the island.

La Louise is located near Quatre Bornes in the Plaines Wilhems district, one of the most densely populated parts of Mauritius. The petrol station attack and road blockade were among several incidents reported across different parts of the island during the same night.

What this means: The arrests at La Louise, combined with the seizure of Molotov cocktails, suggest that at least some of the unrest was not spontaneous but involved premeditated actions. The rapid deployment of multiple police units — including paramilitary and investigative branches — points to the seriousness with which authorities treated the situation. With police already identifying additional suspects, further arrests are expected in the coming days.

Source: ION News