France will deploy 40,000 officers to quell violence that erupted after police fatally shot a teen

France is taking decisive action to address the recent outbreak of violence following the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old by the police. The government has pledged to restore order by deploying an additional 40,000 officers and implementing strict measures in the affected neighborhoods, where numerous buildings and vehicles were set on fire.

Ministers have visited the areas affected by the sudden eruption of riots, appealing for calm while emphasizing that the violence, which resulted in injuries to numerous police officers and extensive damage to nearly 100 public buildings, will not be tolerated. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, after a crisis meeting, announced a significant increase in police presence, more than quadrupling the number of officers from 9,000 to 40,000. In the Paris region alone, the deployment of officers will more than double, reaching 5,000.

Darmanin firmly stated, “The individuals causing disorder must cease their actions.” Although a state of emergency has not been declared at this point, as was done during the 2005 riots, he emphasized that the government’s response will be resolute.

The police officer responsible for the fatal shooting in the Paris suburb of Nanterre will face an investigation for voluntary homicide, as initial findings suggest that the legal conditions for using the weapon were not met, according to local prosecutor Pascal Prache.

The incident, captured on video, has deeply shocked the nation and reignited long-standing tensions between the police and young people in disadvantaged neighborhoods and housing projects.

Despite an increased police presence on Wednesday night, violence resumed after dark, with protesters launching fireworks and throwing stones at the police, who responded with repeated rounds of tear gas. The unrest spread to other towns, and authorities struggled to contain the protesters and extinguish numerous fires. Schools, police stations, town halls, and other public buildings suffered damage across the country, with the majority of incidents occurring in the Paris suburbs, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the national police.

Darmanin reported that 170 officers were injured during the unrest, though none of the injuries were life-threatening. Additionally, at least 90 public buildings were vandalized. The number of civilian casualties has not been disclosed thus far.

According to Prache, the Nanterre prosecutor, the officers attempted to stop the teenager, identified only by his first name, Nahel, due to his youthful appearance and driving a Mercedes with Polish license plates in a bus lane. Nahel ran a red light in an attempt to evade the police but got stuck in traffic. Both officers involved claimed they drew their weapons to prevent him from fleeing. The officer who fired the fatal shot stated that he feared the car would hit him, his colleague, or someone else. Prache has requested the officer’s detention, pending a decision by a magistrate. Two magistrates have been assigned to lead the investigation, as is customary in the French legal system.

The violent scenes in France’s suburbs recall the events of 2005, when the deaths of two teenagers, Bouna Traoré and Zyed Benna, triggered nationwide riots that lasted for three weeks. These incidents exposed deep-seated anger and resentment in neglected, crime-ridden suburban housing projects.

French President Emmanuel Macron convened an emergency security meeting to address the violence, calling the acts “totally unjustifiable.” Macron emphasized the need for “remembrance and respect” as Nahel’s mother organized a silent march that drew a large crowd to the site of his death. Demonstrators wore T-shirts bearing the message “Justice for Nahel,” and signs condemning police violence were displayed.

French activists have renewed calls to address what they perceive as systemic police abuse, particularly in neighborhoods like Nahel’s, where residents face poverty and experience racial and class discrimination. Government officials have condemned the killing and distanced themselves from the actions of the police officer.

Videos of the shooting, which were shared online, show two police officers leaning into the driver-side window of a yellow car before the vehicle drives away, and one officer fires a shot through the window. The videos also capture the crashed car near a nearby post.

While deadly use of firearms is less common in France compared to the United States, incidents involving deaths or injuries caused by French police have prompted calls for greater accountability in recent years. France has also witnessed protests against racial profiling and other forms of injustice following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minnesota.

Recent government statistics indicate that 17 people were killed as a result of police or gendarmerie officers firing at them in 2021.

When questioned about instances of police abuse, President Macron emphasized the importance of allowing justice to run its course.

Yassine Bouzrou, a lawyer representing Nahel’s family, expressed their desire for the police officer to be prosecuted for murder rather than manslaughter.

French football star Kylian Mbappé, who grew up in the Paris suburb of Bondy, expressed his sorrow, tweeting, “I hurt for my France.”

This report was contributed to by Corbet in Paris, Cetinic and Ena in Nanterre, and Charlton in Paris.

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