Young rioters clashed with police and looted stores Friday in a fourth day of violence in France triggered by the deadly police shooting of a teen. Protests have gripped big cities, as people call for justice — and riots have also broken out, bringing violence, fires, and hundreds of arrests.
The 17-year-old victim, identified only as Nahel M., was shot at point-blank range by a police officer on Tuesday morning in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. He was driving a yellow Mercedes when he was pulled over for traffic violations.
The government deployed 45,000 police and several armoured vehicles overnight to tackle the worst crisis of President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership since the “Yellow Vest” protests which brought France to a standstill in late 2018. France’s interior ministry said that 1,311 people had been arrested, compared with 875 the previous night, in violence which it said on Twitter was “lower in intensity”.
Also read: France deploys 45,000 police, armored vehicles to quell riots
Why did France riots begin?
After a police officer shot and killed 17-year-old Nahel in Nanterre, France, two consecutive nights of protests have unfolded in the city and have gradually spread to other regions. The officer allegedly fired at the teenager while he was attempting to escape from the police, citing concerns for his own safety. The entire incident was captured in a video.
Nahel was driving a yellow Mercedes when he was shot at close range during a police stop near Nelson Mandela Square around 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to Nanterre Mayor Patrick Jarry.
Following an initial investigation, local prosecutor Pascal Prache determined that the necessary conditions for the lawful use of the weapon were not fulfilled. As a result, the police officer responsible for the fatal shooting in the Paris suburb of Nanterre will now face an investigation for voluntary homicide.
The officer who shot Nahel is in custody
A police officer was taken into custody after the shooting — and on Thursday, prosecutor Pascal Prache announced a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide against the officer, saying that a review found the legal standard for the officer to use his gun had not been met when he fired at Nahel from close range.
The two officers were riding their motorcycles when they attempted to stop the car after seeing it speed through bus lanes, according to France’s BFM TV, citing a timeline issued by the prosecutor’s office. The car’s driver didn’t stop until he was cut off by a traffic jam, the prosecutor said.
The officer who acknowledged firing his gun said he did so for a number of reasons, from the desire to stop the vehicle to fears that the car might hit him or someone else, the newspaper La Montagne reported.
How far has France riots spread?
Riots have broken out in various cities throughout France, encompassing the outskirts of Paris, Toulouse, and numerous towns in the northern regions. In addition, disturbances have been reported in Amiens, Dijon, St-Etienne, and the vicinity of Lyon.
Protesters have engaged in acts of aggression, including launching fireworks towards law enforcement, setting vehicles ablaze, and intentionally igniting public structures. Notably, in Garges-lès-Gonesse, a town hall was set on fire, while in Mons-en-Barœul, another town hall was torched, resulting in severe damage to multiple facilities and services.
