How did the 2005 riots spread beyond Clichy-sous-Bois?

The 2005 riots were sparked in October by the accidental deaths of two immigrant teenagers who were electrocuted while hiding from police in an electricity substation in Clichy-sous-Bois, a banlieue (suburb) northeast of Paris.1

The unrest spread rapidly from these satellite towns around the capital to much of the rest of the country over a period of three weeks. These protests were fueled by systemic issues, including high unemployment, discrimination, and a lack of opportunity within the primarily North African immigrant community. The violence peaked on the night of November 7, affecting 274 communes nationwide. In response to the widespread unrest, which resulted in nearly 9,000 torched cars and nearly 3,000 arrests, President Jacques Chirac declared a state of emergency on November 8, 2005.12