France: Teen’s Murder Sparks Unrest; Cops Injured, 150 Protesters Arrested
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Following a fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old boy during a traffic stop, chaos erupted across the country, leaving dozens of police officers injured and resulting in the arrest of 150 individuals.
French police secure Nanterre district after fatal shooting of 17-year-old Nahel during a traffic stop. (Photo: Reuters)
In France, a second night of unrest swept across the country, resulting in the arrest of 150 individuals, as reported by Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on Thursday. The turmoil followed the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy of North African descent during a traffic stop by the police.
The clashes caused numerous injuries to dozens of police officers. Expressing his concern on Twitter, Darmanin condemned the “unbearable violence” targeting key symbols of the Republic such as town halls, schools, and police stations.
This incident further contributes to the longstanding perception of police brutality in the ethnically diverse neighborhoods of France’s major cities.
On Wednesday, the interior ministry announced the deployment of 2,000 police officers in the Paris region. As the night progressed in Nanterre’s Avenue Pablo Picasso, a scene of overturned vehicles and burning wreckage unfolded, accompanied by fireworks aimed at the police lines.
Protests escalated in various parts of France. Clashes between police and protesters occurred in Lille in the north, Toulouse in the southwest, as well as in Amiens, Dijon, and the administrative department of Essonne, located south of Paris, according to a police spokesperson.
The Nanterre prosecutor is expected to provide an update on the ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting of the teenager during an 11:00 press conference.
Responding to the unrest, President Emmanuel Macron has called for a cabinet crisis meeting scheduled for Thursday, as confirmed by his office.
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