France detains over 1,300 individuals after fourth consecutive night of riots sparked by the police killing of a teenager

Despite a significant deployment of police forces and the arrest of 1,311 people, rioting persisted for a fourth night in cities across France. The unrest included the burning of cars and buildings, as well as widespread looting. Meanwhile, the family and friends of the 17-year-old victim, whose killing by the police triggered the wave of protests, prepared for the funeral ceremony on Saturday.

The Interior Ministry of France released the updated number of arrests throughout the country, where 45,000 police officers were deployed in an attempt to suppress the violence, albeit unsuccessfully. President Emmanuel Macron had appealed to parents to keep their children at home, but clashes between young protesters and the police continued. Authorities reported approximately 2,500 fires and numerous instances of looting.

In other news, the recent shooting incident in France highlighted that the struggles with racism and police brutality are not unique to the United States. Additionally, police stated that the individual who attacked a Muslim lawmaker had made lewd comments and attempted to kiss her. Furthermore, clashes between youths and French police, along with looting, persisted during the fourth night of riots triggered by a fatal police shooting. The effectiveness of police body cameras, which were introduced a decade ago, was also questioned.

The funeral proceedings for the teenager, identified as Nahel, began on Saturday. Family and friends had the opportunity to view the open coffin before it was taken to a mosque for a ceremony and subsequent burial in a local cemetery.

While the number of arrests continued to rise, the government expressed hope that the violence was gradually subsiding due to increased security measures. Nevertheless, the damage caused by the riots was extensive, affecting cities such as Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and even French territories overseas, where a 54-year-old individual was fatally struck by a stray bullet in French Guiana.

The national soccer team of France, including renowned player Kylian Mbappe, who is idolized by many young people in the disadvantaged neighborhoods where the unrest originated, appealed for an end to the violence. The players emphasized that violence does not resolve anything and urged alternative peaceful and constructive means of expression. They called for a period of mourning, dialogue, and reconstruction.

The killing of Nahel has reignited longstanding tensions between the police and young people in impoverished housing projects who face issues such as poverty, unemployment, and racial discrimination. The ongoing riots mark the most significant wave of unrest witnessed in France in recent years and place additional pressure on President Macron, who attributed the escalation of violence to social media.

The anger initially erupted in the Paris suburb following Nahel’s death on Tuesday and quickly spread nationwide.

In the early hours of Saturday, firefighters in Nanterre extinguished fires set by protesters, leaving charred remains of vehicles scattered across the streets. In the neighboring suburb of Colombes, protesters overturned garbage bins and used them as makeshift barricades.

In Marseille, looters broke into a gun shop and stole weapons, while police arrested nearly 90 individuals as groups of protesters set cars on fire and vandalized stores. The city of Lyon also experienced vandalism of buildings and businesses, with roughly one-third of the approximately 30 arrests being related to theft. Authorities reported fires in the streets after an unauthorized protest, which drew over 1,000 participants on Friday evening.

During the violence on Friday night, 917 people were arrested nationwide, 500 buildings were targeted, 2,000 vehicles were burned, and dozens of stores were looted.

Although the number of arrests during the night reached a peak, there were fewer fires, burned cars, and attacks on police stations throughout France compared to the previous night, as reported by the Interior Ministry. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that the violence had decreased significantly.

Numerous police officers and firefighters have sustained injuries, including 79 overnight. However, official injury statistics for protesters have not been released.

Patrick Jarry, the mayor of Nanterre, asserted that France needs to advocate for changes in disadvantaged neighborhoods.

Despite repeated calls from the government for calm and enhanced policing, brazen acts of violence occurred during daylight hours on Friday as well. An Apple store was looted in the city of Strasbourg, where police used tear gas, while the windows of a fast-food establishment were smashed in a shopping mall near Paris. Authorities successfully prevented individuals from breaking into a closed store.

In response to the escalating crisis, which has not been quelled despite numerous arrests and the extensive deployment of police forces, President Macron refrained from declaring a state of emergency—a measure employed in similar circumstances in 2005. Instead, the government intensified its law enforcement response by deploying a large number of police officers, including those recalled from their vacations.

To combat the unrest, Interior Minister Darmanin ordered a nationwide nighttime shutdown of all public buses and trams, which have been targeted by rioters. He also cautioned social media platforms against becoming channels for inciting violence and acknowledged their cooperation, stating that French authorities are providing them with information to help identify individuals encouraging violent acts. He emphasized that every person who uses these platforms for violent purposes will be pursued.

President Macron also criticized social media platforms, particularly Snapchat and TikTok, which have been used to organize and spread images of vandalism, arson, and other acts of violence. He accused them of facilitating copycat violence and called for greater regulation.

The ongoing violence comes slightly over a year before Paris and other French cities are scheduled to host the summer Olympic Games, with thousands of athletes and millions of visitors expected to attend. Organizers are closely monitoring the situation while continuing preparations for Paris 2024.

The police officer responsible for Nahel’s death has been preliminarily charged with voluntary homicide. Preliminary charges indicate that investigating magistrates have strong suspicions of wrongdoing but require further investigation before proceeding to trial. Nanterre prosecutor Pascal Prache stated that his initial investigation led him to conclude that the officer’s use of his weapon was not legally justified.

Nahel’s mother, identified as Mounia M., expressed anger towards the officer but stated that her anger was not directed at the police in general. She accused the officer of targeting her son based on his appearance as a young person of Arab descent. She emphasized that a police officer should not use their firearm to take the lives of children. The family has Algerian roots.

Race has been a taboo subject in France for many decades, as the country officially adheres to a doctrine of colorblind universalism. However, following Nahel’s killing, French anti-racism activists have renewed their criticism of police conduct.

Last year, thirteen individuals who failed to comply with traffic stops were fatally shot by French police. This year, three more people, including Nahel, have died under similar circumstances. These deaths have prompted calls for greater police accountability in France, which also witnessed protests for racial justice following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minnesota.

This week’s protests echo the three-week period of rioting in 2005 that followed the deaths of 15-year-old Bouna Traoré and 17-year-old Zyed Benna. The two teenagers were electrocuted while hiding from the police in a power substation in Clichy-sous-Bois.

Lewis Joly reported from Nanterre. Claire Rush in Portland, Oregon, and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed to this report.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Riots

More about Riots

• France arrests more than 1,300 people after fourth night of rioting over teen’s killing by police – The Washington Post
• France riots over police killing: What we know so far – Al Jazeera
• France: Riots continue despite 1,300 arrests – DW News
• French police arrest 1,300 people as riots continue over teen’s killing – The Guardian
• France arrests 1,300 after fourth night of rioting over police killing – Reuters