French law enforcement officials arrested about 200 people on Wednesday night after demonstrators angered by the killing of a 17-year-old boy who allegedly disobeyed a traffic stop took to the streets.
In several towns across the country, hundreds took to the streets to protest the murder of a delivery driver identified as Nael M. CBS News on June 27 during a traffic outage report. The crowd targeted police stations, city halls, schools and public transportation over police car killings and mob burning buildings, with 180 people arrested, the report said.
Police stations, town halls and schools were set on fire across France on Wednesday, the second night of protests following the police shooting of a teenage boy on video.
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“This was not about a small protest. It was about a few people who decided to attack a symbol of the republic,” French Interior Minister Gérald Dalmanin said Thursday, adding that the violence had forced police to 170 people were said to have been injured. Mr Darmanin vowed to restore “justice, tranquility and freedom” and promised to deploy 40,000 police officers across the country in case of further violence.
Protesters claim the killings were fueled by racist sentiment. “Many young people in the suburbs and in the poorest neighborhoods, in Paris whose parents are immigrants from Africa, the Caribbean and Asia, are themselves the first victims of police violence,” said French journalist Roccaya Diallo. “I know I’m a target,” he said. Said CNN. “Many of them express concerns about racism and police brutality, which are really what they have at an early age.” (Related: Experts say they’ll cut funding for police campaigns that hold them accountable for rising killings of black Americans)
French President Emmanuel Macron, called Murder of Nael ‘unexplainable and inexcusable’ stood by He praised the French police as a whole for their efforts to “protect” and “serve” the French people. Macron also asked for “respect and calm” as the murder investigation continues.
“Anarchy experts have to go home. I want everyone to know that security will be restored tonight,” Dalmanin warned, according to CBS News.
The person responsible for the alleged shooting has been detained and may be charged with manslaughter pending an investigation. The chief of police in Nanterre, where the incident occurred, has officially said the use of weapons against Nael was not justified, but another investigation is underway to find out why the boy did not comply with the order to stop. reported CBS News.
