Paris: Tensions flared across French streets as protesters took to erecting barricades, setting fires, and launching fireworks at police, marking the fourth consecutive day of unrest following the shocking fatal police shooting of a teenager. In their efforts to restore order, authorities have arrested nearly 1,000 individuals amidst the ongoing government struggle.
The Interior Ministry of France reported on Saturday that a total of 994 people had been detained in connection with the protests. Additionally, there were 2,560 recorded instances of fires on public roads, resulting in 1,350 burned vehicles, along with 2,234 cases of damage or fire in various buildings. Over the course of Friday night, 79 police officers and gendarmes sustained injuries, while police and gendarmerie stations endured 58 separate attacks.
These developments take place after the death of the 17-year-old teenager, identified as Nahel, after being stopped for a traffic violation in the Paris suburb town of Nanterre on Tuesday. The officer who is accused of shooting him was taken to jail. A funeral for Nahel is scheduled to take place on Saturday morning.
Footage of the incident filmed by a bystander showed two officers standing on the driver’s side of the car, one of whom fired his gun at the driver despite not appearing to be in any immediate danger, according to media reports.
The accused officer currently faces a formal investigation for voluntary homicide and has been placed in preliminary detention.
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