France protests: The riots in France continue to rage after police killing of teenager Nahel in the Paris’s suburb of Nanterre. The rioting and looting have continued on Saturday despire large deployment of police forces in major urban centers of the country. As per French Interior Ministry 1,311 people have been arrested so far in the violence related protests. French football stars have come forward in a bid to end the violence. After Kylan Mbappe’s tweet, the French Nation Football team popularly referred to as Les Bleus have put out a statement. It reads “Many of us are from working class neighborhoods and we share the feelings of pain and sadness. But the sadness is compounded by having to helplessly witness this process of self-destruction”.
Meanwhile UK Foreign Office has issued warnings to its citizens over trave to France . As per foreign office location and timings of riots are unpredictable while curfews and road blocks may be imposed by French authorities. In Belgium 8 people have been arrested in unrest related to killing of teenager. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced on Saturday morning that 994 people were 4th consecutive nights of the riots.
Protests continue for fourth straight night
For the past 5 days France has been in unrest following the police killing of teenager in a Parisian suburb. The 17 year old Nahel M, was shot in the chest after driving off during a police check. Nahel was too young to own a driver’s license and when he was stopped by the police he was in a car with Polish number plates along with two passengers. The video of the incident was widely circulated on social media leading to 4 nights of protest by the French people and hard crackdown by the authorities in return. French interior minister Gérald Darmanin had earler announced 471 arrests made in fourth night of rioting and also stated that there has been downturn in violence. On Thursday night more than 900 people were arrested with average age of detainees amounting to just 17 years.
Protests rage in Marseille, calmer night in Paris
The epicenter of unrest has been in the French cities particularly Paris. Protests have rocked the nation for last 5 days even spilling into the neighboring country of Belgium. The cities of Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, Lille and Strasbourg have been caught up in violence and clashes between rioters and local authorities. Videos have been circulating in social media showing explosion at Marseille’s old port. Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan immediately called on the national government to send additional troops. Footage of rioters ramming a vehicle through a supermarket is also widely circulating. Protestors also threw fireworks at the police. In light of protests Marseille’s Pride event has been called off. More than 80 arrests were made in Marseille overnight.
As per interior ministry a total of 45,000 police was deployed on Friday night. Massive deployment undercut eruption of violence by would-be rioters and only minor incidents of vandalism were reported in Paris. A total of 120 arrests were made in the capital city.
Nahel’s funeral and calls for end to violence
The funeral of 17 year old Nahel is scheduled to be held on Saturday. The information was relayed by mayor of Nanterre. The police official who shot the Algerian descent teen has apologized to the family of Nahel and is under police investigation for alleged ‘mansalughter.’ French President Emmanuel Macron has accused rioters of exploiting the shooting of teenager. Many rioters in the country have resorted to looting of store in wake of violence that has gripped the country for last 5 days. French football star Kylian Mbappe has called for the riots to end. Expressing his grievances over incident of teen’s death he also stated ‘violence must end to make way for that of mourning, dialogue and reconstruction.’
Many young teenagers have been detained by the authorities. Children as small as 13 years are being arrested in the riots. Macron called on Parents to keep their children away from the riots.
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