French President Emmanuel Macron convened an inter-ministerial crisis unit this Thursday, after another night and morning marked by violence, in response to the death of a teenager at the hands of police.
“The last few hours have been marked by scenes of violence against police stations, but also against schools and municipal councils… against institutions and against the Republic,” Macron said at the rally, referring to the fact that these attacks are “absolutely unjustifiable”.
At least 150 people were arrested this morning, on the second night of rioting in France, after a 17-year-old black teenager was killed by police in the town of Nanterre, on the outskirts of Paris.
“A night of unacceptable violence against the symbols of the Republic: town halls, schools and police stations set on fire or attacked. 150 people arrested,” French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote this morningon his Twitter account this morning.
Une nuit the violences unbearable against the symbols of the Republic: mairies, schools and commissariats ignited or attacked. 150 interviews. Soutien aux policiers, gendarmes and sapeurs-pompiers qui font face avec courage. Honte à ceux qui n’ont pas appelé au calme.
– Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) June 29, 2023
The death of young Nael at the hands of a police officer who claimed to have used the weapon in self-defense – a version contradicted by the video footage of the incident – had already sparked riots the night before, with around 30 people arrested, around 40 vehicles were set on fire and 24 police officers were injured.
France’s interior minister called for support for security forces and firefighters “who courageously faced the onslaught” by the perpetrators of the riots and lamented those they provoked.
“It is a shame for those who have not called for calm,” he added.
Nuit d’emeutes and Ile de France:
Nous appèl à la désescalade et au respect des agents du service public, en premier lieu les politicians et gendarmes.
Nous appelons also au respect des biens publics. Un tramway brûlé (ici à Clamart) c”est un tramway en moins pour longtemps,… pic.twitter.com/rP1k2QOWRN– Plus the trains (@Plusdetrains) June 29, 2023
BREAKING: Ongoing riots in Nanterre, France, over police killing of teens. pic.twitter.com/MdsBfJvDxq
– The spectator index (@spectatorindex) June 29, 2023
On Wednesday, after the first night of violent incidents, mainly concentrated in Nanterre and other Paris suburbs, French President Emmanuel Macron and several members of his cabinet called for calm and expressed solidarity with Nael’s family, stressing that his death “inexplicable and unforgivable”.
Source: DN
