According to the French interior minister, France experienced a quieter night of protests following the police shooting of a teenager at point-blank range. The number of arrests decreased to 719 compared to previous nights, with the most intense clashes occurring in the southern city of Marseille.
In the Paris suburb of L’Haÿ-les-Roses, an attack took place in which a car was rammed into the house of the mayor, resulting in injuries to his wife as she tried to escape with their two children.
Unrest has been ongoing in French cities since the shooting of Nahel M, a 17-year-old, during a traffic stop on Tuesday. His funeral drew large crowds on Saturday.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin took to Twitter to commend law enforcement for their decisive action, which contributed to a calmer night. Approximately 45,000 police officers were deployed across the country for the second consecutive night on Saturday.
On Friday night, over 1,300 arrests were made, and more than 900 arrests occurred on Thursday. Officials are hopeful that a turning point has been reached, with rioters losing momentum due to the security crackdown and the widespread disapproval of their actions. However, it remains cautious to assume anything until more nights of calm confirm the trend.
In Marseille, intense clashes between police and rioters took place throughout Saturday evening. Videos circulating online showed police deploying tear gas against the protesters. The clashes occurred on La Canebière, the main avenue in the heart of Marseille, and involved a large group of rioters.
In Paris, a significant police presence was observed along the iconic Champs-Élysées avenue. Despite calls on social media for protesters to gather there, the police presence deterred most of them. The capital’s police reported 194 arrests, and the Paris region halted all buses and trams after 9:00 pm for the second consecutive night.
Mayor Vincent Jeanbrun of L’Haÿ-les-Roses reported that his wife and one of his children were injured while fleeing an attacker who rammed his house with a car and set it on fire. He described it as “a murder attempt of unspeakable cowardice.”
Clashes and arrests were also reported in other cities, including Lille, Lyon, Nice, and Strasbourg.
Nahel’s funeral took place at the mosque in Nanterre earlier on Saturday, with supporters of the family requesting that the media stay away. Filming, even on phones, was prohibited during the service.
The shooting of Nahel has reignited debates about French policing, including the controversial 2017 firearms law that allows officers to shoot when a driver refuses to stop. The incident has also raised concerns about racism within the police force, with the UN’s human rights office stating that the unrest provides an opportunity for France to address deep issues of racism in law enforcement.
President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the violence on Friday and criticized the exploitation of Nahel’s death to justify acts of violence, describing it as unacceptable. The officer who fired the fatal shot has been charged with voluntary homicide and expressed his apologies to the family, with his lawyer stating that he is devastated.
