One of 12 buses was set on fire during a violent protest in Aubervilliers, near Paris, as the unrest continued for a third consecutive night in France. The photo, captured by Yoan Valat of EPA-EFE, showcases the intensity of the riots.
June 30 (UPI) — In response to the ongoing riots and demonstrations following the police shooting of a teenager in a Paris suburb, French President Emmanuel Macron appealed to parents on Friday to ensure the safety of their children by keeping them away from the violent disturbances.
To minimize the presence of young people at the rallies, which have been dominated by the youth, Macron encouraged parents to “act responsibly” and prevent their children from participating in the riots. The unrest started after the shooting of 17-year-old Nael M.
Macron attributed the influence of social media for “intoxicating” some young individuals, leading them to mimic the actions of others. He expressed his concern that certain individuals seemed to be living out video game scenarios in real life.
“It is the responsibility of parents to keep their children at home. Therefore, it is crucial for all parties involved to fully exercise parental responsibility for the sake of peace of mind,” Macron emphasized.
To quell the riots, Macron announced plans to advocate for the removal of the “most sensitive” content on social media platforms. Additionally, he pledged to deploy additional police officers to join the existing 40,000 riot officers deployed across France on Thursday, a measure aimed at preventing or limiting further violence. French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin praised the police and firefighters for their bravery in the face of the “uncommon violence” that had spread throughout the country and confirmed that over 667 arrests were made during the third consecutive night of protests.
The damage caused by the riots was substantial, with incidents of looting occurring in central shopping areas near Champs Elysees and the Louvre. Moreover, a dozen buses were destroyed in an attack on a transit depot, and a swimming complex being constructed for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics was damaged by fire. Clashes were reported in various Paris suburbs, including Nanterre, where the fatal shooting of Nael took place. Protestors in Nanterre set bus shelters ablaze and threw projectiles at the police. Other incidents include the burning of IT company Tessi’s offices in Roubaix, attacks on shops and cafes in Marseille, and the looting of a Lidl supermarket in Nantes after rioters rammed a car into it.
Macron cut short his visit to Brussels to return to Paris for an emergency meeting scheduled with ministers, including Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. While the government ruled out declaring a state of emergency, Borne stated that all available options to restore order would be considered, emphasizing the priority of national unity.
The governments of the United Kingdom and the United States issued warnings to their citizens, advising them to avoid the protests, anticipate travel disruptions, and exercise caution regarding parked cars, which have become targets of the demonstrators.
The United Nations also expressed concern over the shooting incident and called for authorities to exercise restraint and implement police reforms. The organization emphasized the importance of peaceful assembly and urged the authorities to ensure that police actions against violent elements in demonstrations adhere to principles of legality, necessity, proportionality, non-discrimination, precaution, and accountability.
