France in turmoil as violent riots erupt following police-involved shooting during traffic stop.

About 180 Arrested in France Following Violent Riots

Around 180 people in France have been arrested as the country experiences a wave of violent riots after a police officer shot a 17-year-old boy in a suburb of Paris.

On Tuesday, 17-year-old Nahel M. was shot during a confrontation with police after they attempted to stop a vehicle he was in. This incident sparked widespread protests across France, with some turning violent. Numerous cars and buildings were set on fire, and even police headquarters were targeted for violence.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated, “The professionals of disorder must go home. There will be a lot more police and gendarmes present tonight.”

Online footage captured the chaos as rioters took to the streets, setting off fireworks and starting fires.

Situation extrêmement tendue à #Nanterre. pic.twitter.com/WGtOt5MCCC

— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) June 28, 2023

Un bâtiment de construction en feu à #Nanterre. pic.twitter.com/GWWrbLFMhZ

— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) June 29, 2023

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the unrest, calling it “absolutely unjustifiable.”

To address the violence, approximately 40,000 police officers have been deployed, and Darmanin stated that France had witnessed “a night of intolerable violence against symbols of the Republic.” He also reported that around 170 officers had been injured during the unrest.

Tensions toujours très importantes à 1H45 à Nanterre pic.twitter.com/Pp15EUG1zE

— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) June 28, 2023

According to initial reports, police attempted to stop the vehicle Nahel M. was in, but he refused to comply and drove through a red light. Police caught up to the vehicle, which was stuck in traffic, and instructed Nahel M. to exit. As the car attempted to drive away, an officer shot the teenager, as confirmed by Nanterre prosecutor Pascal Prache.

The officers claimed they felt “threatened” by the car and were concerned it might harm someone, but Prache stated that, in his assessment, “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met.”

Activists argue that this shooting is part of a pattern of violence by French police against minorities.

The shooting, which was condemned by top French officials, including Macron, will be thoroughly investigated by two magistrates. The officer responsible for the shooting has been suspended pending the investigation.

“An act like the one that we saw, if the investigation confirms the videos that we have seen, is never justified,” Darmanin stated regarding the shooting.

In response to public condemnation, a French police union emphasized that the officers “like any citizen, have the right to the presumption of innocence.”

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