150 arrested during second night of unrest over police killing of teen in France
Paris, June 29 (EFE).- At least 150 people were arrested early Thursday following a second night of unrest in France over the police killing of a 17-year-old boy in the city of Nanterre on the outskirts of Paris.
“A night of unbearable violence against symbols of the Republic: town halls, schools and police stations set on fire or attacked. 150 arrests,” Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote on Twitter.
“Support for the police, gendarmes and firefighters who face up with courage. Shame on those who did not call for calm,” he added.
The teenager, identified as Naël M, was driving a rental car in Nanterre without a permit Tuesday morning when he was stopped by a pair of officers.
In footage that has been circulating on social media, one of the officers can be seen pointing his gun at the teenage driver through the window while the other officer speaks to him on the same side of the car.
A shot can be heard as the car starts to accelerate before crashing to a halt.
The police officers involved initially said they shot at the teenager because they were in danger but the footage suggests otherwise.
The incident sparked protests in Nanterre and other cities on the fringes of the French capital, in which 40 vehicles were torched and 24 police officers injured. Over 30 people were arrested by the police.
Following the night of rioting, French President Emmanuel Macron and several members of his cabinet appealed for calm and expressed solidarity with Naël’s family, calling his death “inexplicable and inexcusable.” EFE
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