77 arrested in violent protests over police killing of teenager

At least 77 people have been arrested in France during a second night of unrest triggered by the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old driver by police.

The teenager, named as Nahel M, was shot at point-blank range as he refused a traffic stop and drove away. Videos shared on social media showed cars being set alight and shops being ransacked on Wednesday across Paris.

A prison in Fresnes was also attacked with fireworks by rioters overnight, AFP reported. The news agency said videos showed about 20 young men attacking the entrance to the prison with fireworks and projectiles. Videos shared to social media showed an alarm sounding during the attack.

Meanwhile, in Nanterre, the Paris area Nahel was from, authorities were forced to partially withdraw, Le Monde reported.

The violence was particularly concentrated around the Pablo-Picasso district there, where young people took to the streets after the sun set. “They’re backing off! Let’s go guys, let’s go, death to cops!” one yelled, while various cars and rubbish bins were set alight. While the violence was concentrated in that district, protesters targeted other regions across Paris, with many firing fireworks into police stations.

In the northern city of Lille, footage posted online showed people inside the town hall of the Mons-en-Barœul suburb setting documents and chairs alight.

And elsewhere, in the western town of Rennes, about 300 people gathered to pay tribute to the teen – some of whom also lit fires and were dispersed by police.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the shooting of Nahel was “unforgivable”. But his comments drew an angry reaction from police unions, who accused him of rushing to judge the officers involved. The Alliance Police union called for them to be presumed innocent until found guilty, while the rival Unité SGP Police also spoke of political interventions that encouraged “anti-cop hatred”.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said he would be taking legal action against another group, France Police, after it published what he called an “unacceptable and abject” tweet seeking to justify the teenager’s killing. The now deleted tweet said “bravo” to the officers who “opened fire on a young criminal” and blamed the teen’s parents for his death, claiming they had been “unable to educate their son”.

(BBC)