1,350 cars burned out during renewed night-time riots in France.
(Photo: dpa)
Paris 1,311 people were arrested in renewed night-time riots in France. The Ministry of the Interior announced this in a preliminary report on Saturday. 79 police officers were injured. Early on Saturday morning, the ministry had spoken of almost 1,000 arrests.
Thanks to the mobilization of security forces across the country, the violence was less intense than the night before, the ministry said.
The authorities had imposed restrictions on public life and local transport for the night of Saturday and relied on a massive police presence: around 45,000 police officers were to ensure order at night. According to the authorities, as a result of the riots on Friday night, around 900 people were arrested and around 150 police officers were injured.
In addition, 1,350 cars burned out during renewed night-time riots in France. The Ministry of the Interior announced on Saturday that there were a total of 2,560 fires on public roads.
In addition, 31 police stations were attacked. According to the authorities, 1,900 cars burned out last night.
The trigger is the death of a 17-year-old
The riots were triggered by the death of a 17-year-old during a police check on Tuesday. A motorcycle patrol in Nanterre near Paris stopped 17-year-old Nahel at the wheel of a car in the morning. When the young man suddenly drove off, a deadly shot was fired from the police officer’s service weapon.
The incident caused dismay across the country, and France has been shaken by violent unrest ever since. The police officer responsible for Nahel’s death was taken into custody. A formal investigation into manslaughter was initiated against him. The 17-year-old is to be buried in Nanterre this Saturday.
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