France experienced its third consecutive night of widespread rioting following the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old delivery driver, identified as Nahel, in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. Over 600 arrests were made across the country, with approximately 300 occurring in the Paris region alone.
The violence erupted after a peaceful march held in Nahel's memory. Protesters engaged in various acts of unrest, including setting up barricades, burning vehicles, and targeting police with fireworks. Public buildings such as schools, town halls, and police stations were also set ablaze. Law enforcement responded with tear gas, water cannons, and dispersion grenades.
In Nanterre, armored police vehicles navigated the streets, clearing debris from burned and overturned cars. The unrest spread to other areas, including Clichy-sous-Bois where the city hall was set on fire, and Aubervilliers where a bus depot was ablaze. Looting and fires were also reported in several locations within Paris itself, and authorities in Marseille reported dispersing violent groups in the city center.
The escalating situation prompted President Emmanuel Macron to cut short his attendance at an EU summit in Brussels and return to Paris for an emergency security meeting. While the government has deployed 40,000 police officers to address the unrest, they have stopped short of declaring a state of emergency.
The incident that sparked the protests involved a police officer shooting Nahel after a traffic stop. The officer, whose name has not been released, claimed to have feared for public safety as Nahel allegedly attempted to evade arrest. However, the prosecutor's preliminary investigation has led to the officer being charged with voluntary homicide, suggesting that the use of lethal force was unjustified. The officer remains in custody.
The officer's lawyer stated that his client was remorseful and believed his actions were necessary in the moment. The shooting has ignited existing tensions between law enforcement and young people in France. While the teenager's family has not attributed the shooting to racial motivations, they have not disclosed his surname or other personal details. The unrest even reached Brussels, where a dozen individuals were detained.
