Paris — France was rocked by protests over the weekend following the fatal shooting of an unarmed 17-year-old boy by a police officer in a Paris suburb. The unrest has led to more than 3,300 arrests, over 1,000 damaged buildings, and 700 injured police officers since the incident on June 27.
Although there were only 157 arrests overnight, which is a significant drop from the previous evening’s 700 arrests, the protests continued to spark violent clashes between police and demonstrators across the country.
The riots have been fueled by allegations of institutional racism within the police force, following the fatal shooting of French-Algerian teenager Nahel last Tuesday.
In Marseille, protests turned violent as rioters attacked police with fireworks, set vehicles on fire, and looted stores. The police responded with tear gas and attempted to disperse the protesters.
The federal government deployed approximately 45,000 officers in towns and cities every night throughout the weekend.
In one Paris suburb, rioters drove a burning vehicle into the home of the local mayor in the early hours of Sunday. His wife and two young children had to escape over a garden wall to safety.
Nahel’s funeral took place in Nanterre on Saturday, the same Paris suburb where he was stopped by police for speeding. Video footage shows his car driving away as an officer points a gun at the vehicle. A single shot is heard before the car comes to a stop nearby, and Nahel unfortunately died at the scene.
The officer responsible for the shooting has been formally investigated for murder, and the public prosecutor in Nanterre has stated that, based on the initial investigation, the officer’s use of his weapon does not appear to be justifiable under French law.
Nahel’s grandmother, in an interview with French TV, appealed for calm amidst the chaotic situation. She urged the protesters to stop damaging property and resorting to violence.
President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to meet with senior lawmakers on Monday to discuss the reasons behind the escalating situation.
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