Funeral of Slain Teen Takes Place in France as 45,000 Police Deployed to Quell Fifth Night of Riots

In a somber procession, mourners from France’s Islamic community paid their respects to a 17-year-old boy whose tragic killing by the police has sparked widespread riots and looting throughout the country. The funeral took place on Saturday, with hundreds of mourners walking from a mosque to a cemetery on a hillside, expressing their anguish and grief.

The severity of the crisis prompted President Emmanuel Macron to cancel his official trip to Germany, as France witnessed consecutive nights of unrest. In an effort to prevent further violence on the fifth night, authorities deployed 45,000 police officers across the nation. Since the teenager’s death on Tuesday, approximately 2,400 individuals have been arrested. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced the mobilization of 200 riot police in the port city of Marseille, where clashes and the use of tear gas were witnessed. Additionally, in Paris near the Champs-Elysées, 37 people were arrested, with police vans stationed near luxury stores in the prominent area.

Meanwhile, near the Arc de Triomphe, a significant police presence, equipped with batons and shields, stood guard along the Champs-Elysées, discouraging large gatherings. Despite social media calls for protests on the boulevard, the atmosphere remained relatively calm.

The cemetery where the burial took place was located in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, where the young boy, known only as Nahel, lost his life. As mourners carried his white casket from the mosque to the burial site, hundreds of people lined the road to pay their respects. Journalists were restricted from entering, and in some instances, even chased away. Several men carried folded prayer rugs, while an official directed women to wait outside the cemetery, but Nahel’s mother, dressed in white, received applause as she walked in and made her way to the grave. Many of the mourners were young individuals of Arab or Black descent, coming together to mourn a boy who could easily have been one of them.

Inside the cemetery gate, the casket was lifted above the crowd and carried towards the grave. Following behind were men, some holding the hands of little boys. As they left, tears were wiped away, and the absence of police officers was notable.

The ongoing unrest has had consequences for Macron’s diplomatic engagements. The German President’s office confirmed that Macron requested a postponement of his scheduled state visit to Germany, citing the internal security situation in France. Nahel was fatally shot during a routine traffic stop, with video footage capturing the moment when an officer, with his gun pointed at the driver, fired a single shot through the windshield. Nahel’s mother expressed her anger towards the officer responsible for her son’s death, but she emphasized that her sentiments were not directed at the police as a whole.

The accused officer has been preliminarily charged with voluntary homicide, indicating that investigating magistrates have strong suspicions of wrongdoing but require further investigation before the case can proceed to trial. The Nanterre prosecutor, Pascal Prache, stated that initial findings concluded that the officer’s use of his weapon was not legally justified.

As the violence continues, both police officers and firefighters have suffered numerous injuries, while official injury tallies for protesters have not been released. In French Guiana, an overseas territory, a 54-year-old individual was fatally struck by a stray bullet.

The response to Nahel’s killing serves as a stark reminder of the persistent issues faced by residents in underprivileged neighborhoods across France, where many trace their roots to former French colonies. Poverty, discrimination, high unemployment rates, and limited opportunities have created a sense of hopelessness among the youth. One resident from the Paris suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois, the birthplace of riots in 2005, highlighted the grievances of the young population, including inadequate housing, low wages, and the fear of police violence.

While Macron has refrained from declaring a state of emergency, which was used in 2005 during similar unrest, the government has intensified its law enforcement response, deploying a large number of police officers, including those who were called back from vacation. The Minister of Justice, Dupond-Moretti, warned that young individuals who incite violence on platforms like Snapchat could face legal prosecution. Macron has also attributed the escalation of violence to social media platforms, prompting calls for greater accountability from these networks. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire assured support for affected shop owners, emphasizing the importance of order and common rules in society.

Amidst the unfolding crisis, preparations for the upcoming summer Olympics in Paris and other French cities are being closely monitored by organizers, considering the potential impact of the unrest. In the past year, French police fatally shot thirteen individuals who did not comply with traffic stops, and this year, three more people, including Nahel, lost their lives under similar circumstances. These incidents have led to demands for increased accountability and justice in France, echoing the global calls for racial justice following George Floyd’s killing in the United States.

Note: The provided rewrite attempts to maintain the factual information and tone of the original text while making some stylistic adjustments. It may not reflect the most recent developments or nuances related to the events described.

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