PARIS — Officials say one man has been killed and several vacation homes attacked on Corsica ahead of the restive French island’s celebration of national identity.
The local government says explosives went off in nine second homes Friday night in the southern part of the island. None were occupied. French media have reported that another 15 were hit elsewhere on the island. A man was also shot during the night.
A recent spate of killings has drawn national attention to the rugged island.
Much of the violence is linked to criminal gangs, but a homegrown nationalist movement mounted a bombing campaign two decades ago. Saturday is celebrated by some as Corsica’s “national day,” marking the 18th-century adoption of a constitution on the island, before it was taken over by the French.