NANTERRE, France (AP) — Last night, tensions escalated in French streets as protesters expressed their outrage over the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old. Barricades were erected, fires were lit, and fireworks were shot at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannons. The unrest resulted in over 600 arrests and more than 200 police officers injured. The government struggled to restore order for the third consecutive night.
In the Paris suburb of Nanterre, where the shooting took place, protesters set cars on fire and police vehicles rammed through the charred wreckage. In other parts of Paris, a fire was set at the city hall of Clichy-sous-Bois, and a bus depot was ablaze in Aubervilliers. Firecrackers were forcefully thrown at security forces in several neighborhoods, and looting occurred in some shops.
Marseille, another city affected by the protests, saw the police trying to disperse violent groups in the city center. To tackle the unrest, a massive deployment of 40,000 police officers was made. The interior minister announced that 667 individuals had been detained, with 307 of those arrests taking place in the Paris region alone.
Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron, who was attending an EU summit in Brussels, cut his trip short to return to Paris and hold an emergency security meeting. The police officer who fired the shot that killed the teenager has been charged with voluntary homicide. However, his lawyer expressed remorse, stating that the officer did not intend to kill and acted out of perceived necessity.
The shooting, captured on video, has sparked outrage in France and brought attention to long-standing tensions between the police and young people in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The mother of the victim called for justice to be served and emphasized that it was not an indictment of the police force as a whole.
Anti-racism activists have also raised concerns about police behavior, citing instances of discrimination and racism. They argue that there is a need for greater police accountability and condemn the use of firearms in such cases. The incident has further fueled demands for justice and equality, echoing the protests against racial injustice after George Floyd’s death in the United States.
The scenes of unrest in France’s suburbs are reminiscent of the riots in 2005 following the deaths of Bouna Traoré and Zyed Benna, which exposed deep-seated anger and resentment in neglected housing projects. The events have reignited debates about discrimination and racism in the country.
As the situation unfolds, the French government continues its efforts to restore order and address the concerns raised by protesters.
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