After police shot and killed a teenager during a traffic check and appeared to have been misled about the circumstances of the shooting, violent protests broke out in the Paris suburbs overnight, and celebrities voiced their displeasure on Wednesday.
Two police officers stopped the unidentified 17-year-old on Tuesday for violating driving laws, according to the prosecution.
A video that was going viral on social media and was verified by AFP refuted the police’s first account that the officer shot at the teenager because he was driving his car at him.
The video shows the two officers standing next to the stopped automobile, one of them aiming a pistol at the driver. The words “You are going to get a gun in your head” can be heard.
As the automobile takes off, the police officer appears to fire at point-blank range. The automobile traveled a few dozen meters before colliding and the driver passed away soon after.
In the western Paris suburb of Nanterre, his death immediately provoked demonstrations.
While police used tear gas to try to disperse the demonstrators, bins were also set on fire and a fire started at a music school. Then, protests started to spread to some nearby suburbs.
Gerald Darmanin, the interior minister, reported on Wednesday that overnight arrests totaled 31, 24 police officers were slightly hurt, and 40 automobiles were set on fire.
The 38-year-old police officer who was seen firing the fatal shot was arrested and is being investigated for voluntary manslaughter.
Yassine Bouzrou, Nael M’s attorney, announced that he would launch a lawsuit against the policeman for voluntary manslaughter and against his fellow officer for involvement in the killing.
The attorney added that he will file a new complaint against the police officers for giving misleading testimony when they claimed that Nael M. had attempted to run them over.
Several politicians and celebrities expressed their disgust, worry, and indignation about the shooting.
Kylian Mbappe, the standout player for Paris Saint-Germain and captain of the French men’s national football team, tweeted, “I am hurting for my France. This is a bad situation. My thoughts are with Nael’s friends and family.”
Comments