France’s government has announced the deployment of 40,000 extra police across the country following days of riots after the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old boy by an officer during a traffic stop.
“The state must be firm in its response, tonight 40,000 police officers will be mobilised, including 5,000 in the Paris region, versus 9,000 yesterday,” said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
It comes as Pascal Prache, public prosecutor of Nanterre – where the shooting took place and has sparked violent protests nationwide – said the officer is being investigated for “voluntary homicide”.
Two magistrates will lead the investigation into the death of the teenager, who was wounded by a gunshot and died at the scene.
The prosecutor told a news conference on Thursday “the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met”, adding he has requested the officer be held in custody.
At least 150 people have been arrested in France following a second night of protests over the killing.
The Paris suburb of Nanterre saw another night of violence on Wednesday as police fired tear gas and protesters threw fireworks at officers and set vehicles ablaze.
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What’s happening in France?
Clashes continued in Nanterre into the early hours of Thursday morning
Rioters also set fire to buildings, while people took to the streets in other areas of the capital as well.
Unrest was also reported in other areas across France, including in the northern cities of Lille and Amiens, along with Dijon in the east and Toulouse in the south.
The Interior Ministry said dozens of police officers were injured during the clashes.
Pic: AP
A police officer fires tear gas in Nanterre
Earlier, the government had appealed for calm and said 2,000 police had been mobilised in the capital.
It comes amid accusations of police brutality and growing anger over the death of the youth on Tuesday, named in local reports as Nahel M.
Pic: AP
Pic: AP
Those speaking out include French footballer Kylian Mbappe.
The Paris Saint-Germain star, who also captains the French national team and grew up in nearby Saint-Denis, described what happened as an “unacceptable situation”.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the shooting “inexplicable and inexcusable” and called for calm.
“Nothing justifies the death of a young person,” he told reporters.
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Anger on the streets of Paris
Earlier this week, prosecutors claimed the teenager, who was of North African origin, drove through a red light and failed to comply with an order to stop his car.
He later got stuck in traffic and the two officers involved said they drew their guns to stop him from starting his car again.
The officers said they feared for their lives after he threatened to run them over, but that is disputed by lawyers for his family.
They cited a video circulating online that shows two police officers leaning into the driver-side window of his yellow car, before the vehicle pulls away and an officer opens fire.
The car is later seen crashed into a nearby post.
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A protest march in Lille earlier on Wednesday
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March for 17-year-old in France
France’s human rights ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the death.
Meanwhile, in a video shared on TikTok, a woman identified as Nahel’s mother called for a memorial march in Nanterre on Thursday.
“Everyone come, we will lead a revolt for my son,” she said.
His killing was the third fatal shooting during a police traffic stop in France so far this year, after a record 13 last year, a national police spokesperson said.