New Riots in France
Following the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old by a police officer, France remains unrestful. For the second consecutive night, riots with fires broke out in several cities. The police described the situation as manageable.
Unrest Erupts in Multiple Cities in France
There were severe riots in several cities in France during the night. The trigger for the sometimes violent protests was the death of a 17-year-old who was shot by a police officer during a traffic stop on Tuesday.
Violent Protests Continue in France
People gathered in cities such as Lille, Nantes, Toulouse, and Lyon to protest, according to the newspaper “Le Figaro” and the broadcaster BFMTV. Trash bins, cars, a bus, a truck, construction machinery, and even a Parisian tram were set on fire. The police reported a tense but controlled situation.
Heavy Police Presence after Previous Night’s Violence
In Nanterre alone, where the teenage driver died on Tuesday morning, 2000 officers were mobilized to prevent further violent riots like the previous evening. A primary school in the Paris metropolitan area went up in flames, and the prison in Fresnes near Paris was attacked with fireworks. The Paris Fire Department urged the population to use the emergency hotline only in urgent cases due to the situation.
Attacks on Police Stations and Public Buildings
Two police stations and patrol cars were attacked with exploding fireworks in Nice, southern France. Rioters erected barricades and set fires. In Mons-en-Baroeul near Lille, masked individuals vandalized a mayor’s office, and a police station was attacked in nearby Roubaix.
150 People Arrested amid Night of Violence
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin referred to it as a “night of unbearable violence against symbols of the Republic.” He took to Twitter to state that “city halls, schools, and police stations” were “set on fire or attacked.” A total of 150 people have been arrested during the unrest. Darmanin expressed his gratitude to all police and firefighters for their “brave” actions.
Macron Condemns Deadly Police Shooting
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the fatal shooting by the police officer. He stated, “We have a teenager who was killed, which is incomprehensible and unjustifiable,” during a visit to Marseille. “Nothing, absolutely nothing justifies the death of a young person.”
Video Footage Reveals Sequence of Events
The 17-year-old Nahel M. was shot on Tuesday while sitting in the driver’s seat of a car during a traffic stop in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. Initially, the police stated that the car had approached two motorcycle police officers near the Paris business district La Défense.
However, a video, verified by various media outlets, showed two police officers stopping the vehicle for inspection. One of the officers aimed his weapon at the driver through the car window and then fired at close range when the car suddenly accelerated.
After a few meters, the car crashed into a post. The 17-year-old died shortly thereafter, despite resuscitation attempts by emergency services, due to the gunshot wound in his chest.
Investigations Launched against Police Officer
The 38-year-old police officer is in custody. He is now being internally investigated for suspected intentional homicide. Initially, the two officers involved in the inspection reportedly claimed that the teenager had tried to run them over, according to the broadcaster “France Info.” It was only when verified video footage of the incident spread on social media platforms that they changed their statement and disavowed the alleged intention to kill the teenager.
The victim’s family lawyers also filed a complaint against the officer. They clarified that Nahel M. had no criminal record and that he was a popular pizza delivery driver in the neighborhood.
The mother of the deceased also spoke out on social media. She called for a memorial march in front of the prefecture in Nanterre on Thursday afternoon. “This is a revolt for my son,” she said in a video posted on TikTok.