A total of 486 people had been arrested across France as of Sunday, the Interior Ministry said, adding that level of violence appeared to have declined since rioting first broke out over the death of Nahel M. in Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday.
It was reported that Nahel M., 17-year-of-old, was shot in the chest at point-blank range on Tuesday in an incident that has reignited debate in France about police tactics long criticised by rights groups.
Death of Nahel, who was an Algerian origin, ignited protests in the country and have again exposed the severe racial tensions in modern France, increasing scrutiny on the police, who have long been accused of singling out minorities.
The crisis which is a hugely unwelcome development for President Emmanuel Macron, who was looking forward to pressing on with his second mandate after seeing off months of protests that erupted in January over raising the pensions age.
Cars and bins were torched in parts of Paris and protesters launched fireworks at riot police firing flashball projectiles to try to disperse the angry crowds. “We are sick of being treated like this. This is for Nahel, we are Nahel,” said protesters as they wheeled rubbish bins to add to a burning barricade in the capital.
“A calmer night thanks to the resolute action of the security forces,” Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted early Sunday, while he had told reporters earlier that 45,000 members of the security forces has been deployed overnight the same number as the night before.
Moreso, the President urged parents to take responsibility for underage rioters, one-third of whom were “young or very young” and Justice Minister, Eric Dupond-Moretti said on Saturday that 30 percent of those arrested were minors, the average age of just 17.
Meanwhile, Both the United States and the British governments have issued alerts warning to travellers about the ongoing protests across much of France, after the death of the 17-year-old French boy at the hands of Policeman.
On Friday, the United Kingdom’s foreign ministry warned that “since June 27th, riots have taken place across France. Locations and timing of riots are unpredictable. You should monitor the media, avoid areas where riots are taking place”.
While neither country advises against travel to France, but the US Embassy warns: “US citizens should avoid any mass gatherings and areas where of significant police activity as they can turn violent and result in clashes”.
In a sign of the seriousness of the crisis, Macron postponed a state visit to Germany scheduled to begin Sunday. Nahel’s funeral ceremony was held on Saturday in Nanterre, where he lived, with hundreds gathering peacefully along with his mother and grandmother.
