Riots erupted in France overnight after the death of a 17-year-old boy during a police check, and the government stepped up the police presence in Paris and other major cities.
Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
The young man’s death attracted national attention and sparked riots in several cities. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanen announced that 31 people were arrested, 25 police officers were injured and 40 cars were burnt during the overnight riots.
The most tense situation was in Nanterre, where the 17-year-old was shot dead. A police officer who shot him during a roadside test has been arrested and may face manslaughter charges, Nanterre’s public prosecutor’s office said.
Darmanen said the video footage of the incident was “extremely shocking” and promised a thorough investigation. The footage shows two officers leaning over the driver’s side window of a yellow car, and moments later the car speeds away, with one of the officers shooting through the window. The video later shows the car crashing into a nearby pole.
“I call for peace and truth,” Darmanen said. He said 1,200 police officers were on patrol overnight and 2,000 police officers would be deployed in the Paris region and around other major cities today.
In France, the use of firearms with a fatal outcome is less common than in the United States. Tuesday’s death sparked anger in Nanterre and other cities, particularly in areas where many residents struggle with poverty and discrimination and believe police are not punished enough for violence.
The family of a slain teenager wants the police officer to be prosecuted for murder, not manslaughter, and wants the investigation transferred to another region, fearing Nanterre investigators will not be impartial, the family’s lawyer told media.
The French government will hold a security meeting on Wednesday afternoon to discuss the next steps, Darmanin said.
The victim was shot and died at the scene. One passenger in the car was briefly detained and then released, and police are looking for a second passenger who fled, prosecutors said.
In recent years, several people have been killed or injured by the actions of French police officers, prompting calls for greater accountability.
Content will continue after the ad
Advertising
2023-06-28 13:04:22
#Riots #broke #France #death #17yearold #youth #police #check
