1-7-2023 (PARIS) Following the killing of 17-year-old Nahel M. by police during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb on Tuesday, France has seen a fourth consecutive night of rioting, with 994 people arrested across the country on Friday, according to the interior ministry. 79 police officers were injured and 1,350 vehicles were burned during the riots.
The French government deployed 45,000 officers overnight, backed by light armoured vehicles and crack police units, to quell the violence. However, despite the large deployment, rioting broke out in cities around France, with cars and buildings set ablaze and stores looted.
The family of Nahel M. has requested privacy at his funeral, scheduled to take place in Nanterre on Saturday. The ongoing protests over his death have reignited tensions between the police and the public, highlighting issues of police brutality and excessive use of force.
President Emmanuel Macron has called for calm and unity, and the government has promised to investigate the incident thoroughly. However, tensions remain high, and many are demanding justice for Nahel M. and systemic changes to address police brutality and discrimination.
The violence has also spread to some French overseas territories, with a 54-year-old person dying in French Guiana after being hit by a stray bullet. Although the government has suggested that tougher security measures are beginning to ease the violence, damage remains widespread, and the situation remains tense.
