Protests erupted in Paris as clashes between demonstrators and police unfolded following the shooting death of a teenager, marking a surge in unrest. The incident occurred overnight after a police officer shot and killed a 17-year-old in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday. The teenager, identified as Naël M, allegedly refused to comply with a traffic check, resulting in the fatal confrontation.
According to prosecutors, the police pulled over the teenager driving a rental car in the Paris suburb for violating traffic regulations. Emergency services managed to resuscitate Naël M after he suffered a gunshot wound, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Two other passengers were present in the car and witnessed the tragic incident. One of them fled the scene while the police detained the other.
The fatal incident
Initial statements from the police suggested that the teenager deliberately drove the car towards them, posing a threat. However, a social media video verified by the French news agency AFP contradicts the police’s claim. The video shows two police officers leaning into the driver-side window of a yellow car, with one of the officers pointing his gun at the driver. Despite this, the officer fired at point-blank range while the teenager continued driving. The car eventually crashed a short distance away.
The police officer responsible for the shooting has been detained and faces charges of homicide.
Heightened tensions grip Paris
The violence first erupted on Tuesday evening with a demonstration outside the Nanterre police station before spreading to nearby towns. The situation escalated when protestors set a car on fire, vandalized a bus stop, and hurled firecrackers at the police officers. Videos on social media show law enforcement deploying tear gas and dispersion grenades to disperse the protestors.
Reports from the BBC indicate that 20 individuals have been arrested thus far.
Image Source: AFP via Al Jazeera
The unrest has not been confined to Nanterre alone; it has extended to Asnières, Colombes, Suresnes, Aubervilliers, Clichy-sous-Bois, and Mantes-la-Jolie. Video footage circulating on social media captures the eruption of protests in the heart of Paris, located approximately 11 kilometres from the suburb of Nanterre.
Dual investigations launched
Authorities have initiated two separate investigations in the wake of this tragic incident. The IGPN national police inspectorate will investigate the possibility of intentional killing by a public official, while the regional police will examine the driver’s failure to comply with the order to stop the vehicle and the alleged attempt to harm a police officer.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez, in an interview with the French television channel BFMTV, acknowledged that the police officer’s actions had raised concerns. France’s Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin addressed the Parliament, describing the video of the incident as “extremely shocking.” He urged people to respect the grieving family and recognize the presumption of innocence afforded to the police officer.
Lawyers representing the family of the deceased teenager have rejected the police’s assertion that their lives were in danger due to the driver’s alleged attempt to run them over. Citing the video footage, the family has filed a complaint against the police, accusing them of providing false information.
Escalating number of fatalities involving french police
In 2022, France experienced an unprecedented surge in the number of deaths resulting from police shootings during traffic stops, with 13 such incidents. The recent tragic incident involving Naël M marks the second fatality in 2024. Just two weeks ago, a 19-year-old died in a similar occurrence in Angoulême, in southwestern France.
Political figures demand police reform
Political figures have responded to the incident, blaming the police for the rising number of fatal incidents and calling for reform. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a prominent left-wing leader, took to Twitter, asserting that no law enforcement officer has the authority to take a life unless acting in self-defence. He further highlighted that the unregulated conduct of the police undermines the credibility and efficacy of the state’s authority, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive reform.
Notably, the number of deaths resulting from police shootings in France is lower than those in the United States.
