PARIS - Amidst ongoing riots in French cities for the fourth consecutive night over the fatal shooting of a teenager by a police officer during a traffic stop, France has mobilized 45,000 police officers and deployed armored vehicles on the streets. The violent unrest has resulted in the burning of buildings and vehicles, as well as widespread looting of stores. This situation poses a significant challenge to President Emmanuel Macron, comparable to the gravest crisis he faced during the Yellow Vest protests that commenced in 2018.
The wave of unrest has spread across various cities in France, including Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Lille, and Paris, following the shooting of 17-year-old Nahel M., who had Algerian and Moroccan heritage, in the Nanterre suburb on Tuesday. The incident, captured on video, has sparked renewed grievances from marginalized urban communities, characterized by poverty and racial diversity, regarding issues of police violence and systemic racism.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin reported that a total of 270 individuals were arrested on Friday night alone, bringing the overall number of arrests to over 1,100 since the outbreak of the unrest. Among the recent arrests were 80 people in Marseille, France's second-largest city, which is home to a significant population of North African descent.
Social media images captured an explosion that shook the old port area of Marseille, although local authorities are currently investigating the cause and have not reported any casualties. Amidst the riots in central Marseille, rioters targeted a gun store, looting it and stealing several hunting rifles. However, the police confirmed that no ammunition was taken. One individual was apprehended with a rifle believed to be from the store, prompting the police to guard the premises.
Marseille Mayor Benoit Payan issued a call to the national government, urging them to immediately deploy additional troops in response to the escalating situation. He expressed his disapproval of the scenes of looting and violence in a tweet late on Friday. In the early hours of Saturday, three police officers sustained minor injuries, and a police helicopter was deployed to monitor the situation.
In Lyon, France's third-largest city, the gendarmes police force utilized armored personnel carriers and a helicopter to suppress the ongoing unrest.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has called for the suspension of bus and tram services across France from 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) and announced the deployment of 45,000 officers, an increase of 5,000 from the previous day. In an interview, Darmanin stated that all possibilities, including declaring a state of emergency, are being considered based on the situation following the night's events, to be determined by the President of the Republic.
In Paris, police dispersed protesters forcefully from the famous central square, Place de la Concorde, during an unplanned demonstration on Friday night. According to Darmanin, more than 200 police officers have been injured during the unrest, and numerous rioters have been arrested. The average age of those arrested is 17. President Emmanuel Macron earlier appealed to parents to ensure the safety of their children by keeping them away from the streets during this turbulent period.
Members of the French national soccer team have called for calm amidst the riots, emphasizing the need for mourning, dialogue, and reconstruction. Looters have damaged shops and set fire to thousands of vehicles. Concerts and the upcoming Tour de France have been canceled or adjusted. President Emmanuel Macron has interrupted his EU summit participation for cabinet crisis meetings, urging social media platforms to remove sensitive riot footage and disclose identities of those inciting violence. The unrest stems from perceived injustice due to incidents of police violence against minority communities. Videos circulating on social media show urban areas in flames. Tourists expressed concern or support for protesters calling for action against racism and police-minority community issues. Western governments cautioned their citizens, while the UN rights office urged peaceful assembly and non-discriminatory police force. The police officer involved in the shooting is in custody and under investigation. The current unrest evokes memories of the 2005 riots and state of emergency declaration following the deaths of two young men evading police.