Muslim butcher's shop sprayed with bullets in Corsica

The shop, in the centre of the resort town of Propriano, was “hit with a torrent of heavy-weapons fire,” said Bouillard. No one was injured.

Corsica, known as the “Isle of Beauty” for its turquoise waters and picturesque mountains, was rocked by anti-Arab riots over Christmas.

Protests erupted after firefighters and a police officer called to a low-income neighbourhood, mostly home to North African immigrants, were ambushed and attacked.

Demonstrators shouting slogans such as “This is our home!” and “Arabs get out”, vandalised a Muslim prayer hall and set fire to books including copies of the Koran.

Six people have been charged in connection with that unrest.