Widespread clashes broke out yesterday and continued overnight in the western Paris suburb of Nanterre after a 17-year-old motorist was shot dead by a police officer for “refusing to comply”. The officer was taken into custody.

The tragedy unfolded yesterday Tuesday morning. Initially, sources close to the French police reported that a car crashed into two of its motorcyclists.

But video later circulated on social media sites – which AFP and other media have verified as authentic – shows one of the two officers pointing a gun at the driver, then shooting him at close range when he tries to speed up, drive away .

In the video, the phrase “you’re going to get shot in the head” is heard – it’s not clear who is saying it.

The vehicle stops a few tens of meters further, on a pole.

The victim, Nael M., 17 years old, succumbed to his chest injuries.

The teenager’s death and the circumstances surrounding it caused an enormous emotional charge and anger in Nanterre, where he lived. Riots broke out between residents and law enforcement last night, AFP journalists found.

Fifteen arrests were made, according to an account given by the police department of the area until 01:00 [τοπική ώρα· 02:00 ώρα Ελλάδας].

Police spoke of “sporadic” incidents on the outskirts of the French capital.

Although police said the situation was “under control” just before midnight, the tension continued, spreading to other suburbs in northern Paris. Police spoke of “sporadic” riots in the areas of Aniers, Colombes, Surens, Aubervilliers, Clichy-sous-Bois and Mand-la-Jolie.

At Nader, fireworks were fired at police officers. A fire broke out in a conservatory, where the fire department quickly intervened. In Mand-la-Jolie, a kindergarten caught fire.

Trash cans and cars were set on fire, carports were destroyed. Protesters set up barricades. Law enforcement forces repeatedly used tear gas.

Two ongoing investigations

Following the death of Nael M., an investigation into “refusal to comply” and attempted manslaughter against a representative of a public authority began. A second investigation, into manslaughter committed by an agent of a public authority, was assigned to the police internal affairs service (Inspection générale de la police nationale, IGPN).

The police officer who allegedly used his service weapon, 38, remains in custody.

The lawyer representing the victim’s family, Yasin Bouzrou, announced that he would file two lawsuits “in the coming days”, one against the police officer who shot, for manslaughter, and his colleague for complicity.

The second lawsuit, for making a false report to a public authority, will be filed against the officers because they claimed the young man tried to kill them “by trying to hit them with his car, which is disproved” simply by watching the video, the lawyer added. .

Two other people were in the car when the events unfolded. The first escaped, the second – also a minor – was arrested on the spot and taken into custody, then released yesterday afternoon.

“The death penalty no longer exists in France”

The mayor of Nanterre, Patrick Zari, said the video “shocked” him.

The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanen, also spoke about “extremely shocking images” in the French National Assembly.

“It’s so sad, he was so young. I saw him being born,” sighed Samia, 62, his old neighbor, who went to leave a bouquet of flowers at the place of his death.

The young man was known to the justice, he had been accused again of “refusal to comply”.

The president of the conservative party Republicans (Les Républicains, LR), Eric Ciotti, expressed his support for the police last night. “Support to our police who mobilized tonight in Nanterre to maintain order. The night will be difficult, you are the defenders of our collective security. Nothing justifies this chaos,” he said via Twitter.

On a completely different wavelength was the position of left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon: “The death penalty no longer exists in France. “No policeman has the right to kill, unless he is in lawful defense,” he said via Twitter. The leader of Insubordinate France (La France Insoumise, LFI) added that the police discredit state power and decided that they should be reformed from the ground up.

“[Εύχομαι] a justice worthy of the name to honor the memory of this child,” French actor Omar Sy commented on Twitter.

In 2022, thirteen deaths were recorded during police checks on roads after “refusal to comply”, an unprecedented number in France.