150 People Arrested As Protest Erupts In France After Police Killed Of 17-year-Old Boy

Over 150 people have been arrested after violent clashes erupted during protests across France over the killing of a 17-year-old boy identified as Nahel M by the police.

It was gathered that the unrest was triggered by the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy by police officers during a routine traffic check near Paris on Tuesday.

The incident has caused outrage and sparked violence, leading to the destruction of town halls, schools, and police stations on Wednesday, the second night of the protests.

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence, describing it as “unjustifiable” while the police officer responsible for the shooting is now the subject of a formal investigation for voluntary homicide.

The victim, identified as Nahel M, was shot at close range as he attempted to drive away from the police. French prosecutors argue that the use of firearms in this situation was not legally justified.

In response to the escalating riots, President Macron held a crisis cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin characterized the previous night’s violence as “unbearable” and emphasized the need for a firm response from the state. He announced that 40,000 police officers would be mobilized nationwide to prevent further violence.

The clashes predominantly took place in the suburbs of Paris, with Nanterre, where the teenager was shot dead, experiencing some of the most intense confrontations.

Local authorities were compelled to partially withdraw due to the severity of the situation. Videos circulating on social media showed instances of arson and looting throughout the Paris region.

In one incident, about 20 young men attacked a prison in Fresnes, south of the capital, using fireworks as projectiles.

The Pablo Picasso district witnessed particularly concentrated violence, with young people taking to the streets and chanting slogans such as “Death to cops!” Numerous cars and trash bins were set on fire.

Although the violence was concentrated in that area, protests spread to other regions in Paris, with some individuals launching fireworks at police stations.

In Mons-en-Barœul, a suburb of the northern city of Lille, a video shared online showed people inside the town hall setting documents and chairs on fire.

In Rennes, a western town, approximately 300 individuals gathered to pay tribute to the deceased teenager, but the gathering turned violent and was dispersed by the police after fires were lit.

President Macron initially expressed his condemnation of Nahel’s shooting, describing it as “unforgivable.”

However, his comments drew criticism from police unions, accusing him of prematurely passing judgment on the officers involved.

The Alliance Police union demanded that the officers be presumed innocent until proven guilty, while the rival Unité SGP Police claimed that political interventions encouraged “anti-cop hatred.”

Interior Minister Darmanin announced his intention to take legal action against France Police, a group that published a now-deleted tweet justifying the killing of the teenager. He deemed the tweet “unacceptable and abject,” as it applauded the officers’ actions and blamed the teen’s parents for his death.

Nahel’s mother, Mounia, made an emotional appeal via social media, expressing her grief and calling for a march in remembrance of her son. She emphasized that Nahel was still a child who needed his mother and spoke of the devastating loss she experienced.

The police officer accused of killing Nahel claimed he fired his weapon because he felt his life was in danger. He is currently in custody, facing charges of voluntary manslaughter.

The incident marks the second police shooting resulting in death during a traffic stop in France this year. In 2022, a record number of 13 people died in similar circumstances.

Rights groups have criticized a 2017 law change that expanded the circumstances under which officers can use firearms. According to official statistics cited by Le Monde newspaper, the annual number of police shootings involving moving vehicles has consistently increased since the change.

KanyiDaily had also reported how 35 people were killed in Iran during a protest over the death of a 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody after she was arrested for breaking rules on wearing hijab.