NANTERRE: Violent protests rocked the Paris suburbs overnight and celebrities expressed outrage Wednesday after police shot dead a teenager while blocking traffic and appeared to have spoken lie about the circumstances of the murder.
17-year-old man, named only Nael USAwas stopped by two police officers on Tuesday for a traffic violation, prosecutors said.
Police initially reported that an officer shot the teenager because he was driving into him, but this version of events contradicts a video that went viral on social media and was authenticated by AFP.
Footage shows two officers standing next to a stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver. A voice said, “You’re going to get a bullet in the head.”
The policeman seemed lifeless as the car suddenly sped away.
The car moved several tens of meters before crashing. The driver died shortly afterwards.
His death sparked immediate protests in Nanterre, a suburb west of Paris.
Trash cans were also set on fire and a fire broke out at a music school, while police tried to disperse protesters with tear gas.
Protests then broke out in several neighboring suburbs.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Wednesday that 31 people were arrested overnight, 24 policemen suffered minor injuries and about 40 cars were set on fire.
The 38-year-old police officer seen shooting the fatal shot has been taken into custody and is being investigated for voluntary manslaughter.
Nael M’s lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, said he would file a lawsuit against the officer for voluntary manslaughter and his colleague for complicity in the shooting.
The attorney also said that he would file a further complaint of false testimony against the officers, alleging that Nael M. tried to get past them.
There were two passengers in the car. One fled and the other, also a teenager, was briefly detained.
Celebrities and some politicians have expressed disgust, concern and outrage at the shooting.
Kylian Mbappe, captain of the France men’s national football team and star player for Paris Saint-Germain club, wrote on Twitter: “I am hurting for my France.
“An unacceptable situation. All my thoughts are with the friends and family of Nael, the little angel who left us too soon,” Mbappe said.
Actor Omar Sy, best known for his roles in the movie “The Intouchables” and the TV show “Lupin”, wrote on Twitter: “I hope that the justice worthy of the name will honor the memory of the child. This.”
Far-left politician Jean-Luc Melenchon said that “France no longer has the death penalty” and called for a “complete redesign of the police force”.
Darmanin – who has previously assisted police in similar situations – called the video “extremely shocking” in parliament.
On Wednesday, he said the officer would be suspended “if the charges against him are upheld”.
The minister announced that 2,000 police would be deployed to deal with any further violence on Wednesday.
17-year-old man, named only Nael USAwas stopped by two police officers on Tuesday for a traffic violation, prosecutors said.
Police initially reported that an officer shot the teenager because he was driving into him, but this version of events contradicts a video that went viral on social media and was authenticated by AFP.
Footage shows two officers standing next to a stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver. A voice said, “You’re going to get a bullet in the head.”
The policeman seemed lifeless as the car suddenly sped away.
The car moved several tens of meters before crashing. The driver died shortly afterwards.
His death sparked immediate protests in Nanterre, a suburb west of Paris.
Trash cans were also set on fire and a fire broke out at a music school, while police tried to disperse protesters with tear gas.
Protests then broke out in several neighboring suburbs.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Wednesday that 31 people were arrested overnight, 24 policemen suffered minor injuries and about 40 cars were set on fire.
The 38-year-old police officer seen shooting the fatal shot has been taken into custody and is being investigated for voluntary manslaughter.
Nael M’s lawyer, Yassine Bouzrou, said he would file a lawsuit against the officer for voluntary manslaughter and his colleague for complicity in the shooting.
The attorney also said that he would file a further complaint of false testimony against the officers, alleging that Nael M. tried to get past them.
There were two passengers in the car. One fled and the other, also a teenager, was briefly detained.
Celebrities and some politicians have expressed disgust, concern and outrage at the shooting.
Kylian Mbappe, captain of the France men’s national football team and star player for Paris Saint-Germain club, wrote on Twitter: “I am hurting for my France.
“An unacceptable situation. All my thoughts are with the friends and family of Nael, the little angel who left us too soon,” Mbappe said.
Actor Omar Sy, best known for his roles in the movie “The Intouchables” and the TV show “Lupin”, wrote on Twitter: “I hope that the justice worthy of the name will honor the memory of the child. This.”
Far-left politician Jean-Luc Melenchon said that “France no longer has the death penalty” and called for a “complete redesign of the police force”.
Darmanin – who has previously assisted police in similar situations – called the video “extremely shocking” in parliament.
On Wednesday, he said the officer would be suspended “if the charges against him are upheld”.
The minister announced that 2,000 police would be deployed to deal with any further violence on Wednesday.
