Paris: The mayor of L’Hay-les-Roses, a suburb of Paris, has reported an attack on his home that he described as “an assassination attempt” on his family. According to CNN, Vincent Jeanbrun stated that the incident occurred early Sunday morning when individuals rammed their car into his residence and set it on fire while his wife and two young children were sleeping inside.
The turmoil in France arises from the murder of Nahel Merzouk, 17, who was shot by a police officer earlier this week in Nanterre. The funeral for Merzouk took place at a mosque in Nanterre on Saturday under heavy security. His death has sparked discussions about policing in marginalised communities and raised questions about potential racial factors in the shooting.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin reported that 427 people were arrested overnight on Saturday, following more than 1300 detentions on Friday. He also stated that 45,000 police officers were deployed nationwide on Saturday evening, a number similar to the previous night.
While a government minister noted that the situation was relatively calmer compared to previous nights, local media reported instances of rioting, looting, and clashes in Marseille. Darmanin clarified that the number of deployed officers across the country did not increase significantly, but additional forces were dispatched to control protesters in Lyon, Grenoble, and Marseille.
Mounia, the mother of the deceased teenager, expressed her belief that the police officer responsible for her son’s death should be held accountable. However, the incident has resulted in widespread unrest and inquiries into whether racial factors influenced the shooting. In light of the intense protests in France, President Emmanuel Macron decided to postpone his state visit to Germany.
According to the Ministry, 79 police officers and gendarmes were injured on Friday night, and there were 58 attacks on police stations and gendarmeries. The situation remains tense as authorities work to address the unrest and investigate the circumstances surrounding Nahel Merzouk’s death
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