France steps up security to deal with wave of violent protests

According to AFP, on June 29, French President Emmanuel Macron convened a meeting on the security crisis in the country, calling for calm amid widespread violent protests. "We have seen protesters attacking police stations as well as schools and town halls. This is an act against institutions and the republic. These actions are completely absurd," Mr. Macron told reporters before the start of the meeting, CNN reported.

On the same day, according to France 24, at a press conference, prosecutor Pascal Prache in the Nanterre area (suburb of Paris) said that the police officer who shot the teenager did not meet the "legal conditions for using a gun" and is being investigated for attempted murder. Mr. Prache, who is leading the investigation, said that initial investigations showed that the police officer's use of the gun was unjustified. Therefore, the initial charge of manslaughter has been changed to attempted murder. In addition, prosecutors are also collecting evidence to investigate whether the victim cooperated with the police when asked to stop for a check. "The purpose of these two investigations is to examine objectively all the circumstances that led to the death of this young driver," prosecutor Prache emphasized.

French firefighters try to extinguish a fire following protests over the police shooting of a teenager. Photo: Reuters

The victim, identified as Nahel M, was from Nanterre, a predominantly working-class area. The 17-year-old was shot in the chest at close range while stopped in Nanterre on the morning of June 27. He was driving a Mercedes when he was stopped for a traffic violation. Police initially reported that the teenager was shot after he drove into police. However, this contradicts a video posted on social media. The video shows two police officers standing next to a stationary car, one of whom points a gun at the teenager. The officer then opens fire as the car suddenly speeds away and gradually comes to a stop. The 38-year-old officer who fired the shots has been arrested and is under investigation. The victim's lawyer said he would sue the other officer for complicity.

Many politicians and celebrities have expressed outrage at the incident. President Macron said that the police shooting the teenager was inexcusable. “A teenager died. It is inexcusable and unforgivable. Nothing can justify the death of a young person,” Mr. Macron said during a visit to the southern French city of Marseille on June 28. Mr. Macron said that this incident had shocked France, and sent condolences to the victim’s family. AFP news agency said this was one of the rare times Mr. Macron criticized French law enforcement. Meanwhile, on Twitter, French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne called for calm to find the truth. Ms. Borne also emphasized that the police’s actions were “clearly not in accordance with the rules.” For his part, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin admitted that the images of the incident shared on social media were “shocking”, but called on people to restrain their anger and wait for the results of the investigation.

The 17-year-old's death sparked protests in Nanterre and surrounding areas. Protesters set fire to objects and fired fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas. Clashes between police and protesters spread from residential areas around Paris to other French cities, including Toulouse, Dijon and Lyon. French Interior Minister Darmanin said security forces had arrested 150 protesters, stressing that the situation was "intolerable."

The shooting death of a teenager by police has sparked debate in France about the police force's professionalism and criticism of its treatment of people in low-income areas. Far-left politician Jean-Luc Melenchon has called on the French government to urgently reform the police force.

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