France: Teenager's death at the hands of police sparks serious riots

The death of a 17-year-old teenager after attempting to flee a traffic stop near Paris sparked a wave of riots in the French capital. Police arrested at least 31 rioters, who clashed with officers, stormed a police station, destroyed cars and public property, and set fire to both a school and the Val Fourré town hall. The Minister of the Interior announced that 2,000 officers were being deployed to prevent further incidents. The police officer who shot the minor is being held in custody pending investigation.

Perpetrator of the shooting arrested

The minor, who had a record of disobedience to authority, according to Franceinfo, was driving without a license and tried to escape from two police officers. Several people captured the incident and shared the videos online and with the French media. In the recordings, both policemen can be seen on the side of the car. One of them pointed his gun at the young man. As he sped up in an attempt to flee, the police offers shot him in the chest. Emergency services on the scene were unable to save his life.

The officer who shot the minor is in custody. The Public Prosecutor's Office has since opened two investigations: one against the minor for resisting arrest and attempted murder of a public official, and a second against the policeman for deliberate homicide. The boy's family issued a statement through their lawyer, Jennifer Cambla, announcing that they will file a complaint for "falsification of a public document" as they consider that the officers lied in their initial report, where they stated that the young man "crashed into them." Subsequently, they both pointed out that he had only accelerated after stopping in front of them.

350 officers clashed with protesters

The event sparked a wave of protests that spread through the suburbs of Paris and forced 350 police officers to be deployed from the Paris Prefecture, who had to use force against the protesters. The incidents resulted in 24 arrests and 24 police officers were injured. Protesters set 42 vehicles and construction machinery on fire. They also lit the police station and the Val Fourré town hall on fire. The Paris Prefect of Police, Laurent Nunez, stressed that the decision t deploy police "prevented looting of stores and public buildings."

Fireworks against agents

Attacks on firefighters