Sporadic Violence and Looting Grip French Cities in Fourth Night of Protests

Several cities across France experienced sporadic violence and looting during a fourth night of protests following the fatal police shooting of a teenager. However, authorities reported that the intensity of the unrest was significantly lower compared to previous nights. To address the situation, France deployed 45,000 officers supported by light armoured vehicles, while elite police units and other security forces were dispatched throughout the country to restore calm.

Despite the heightened security presence, incidents of looting occurred in Lyon, Marseille, and Grenoble on Friday night, with groups of hooded rioters targeting shops. Additionally, protesters set fire to cars and trash bins in various locations. However, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin stated during a visit to Mantes-la-Jolie that the level of violence was notably reduced. Nationwide, there were 471 arrests, and pockets of tension remained in Marseille and Lyon.

The unrest stems from the death of Nahel, a teenager who was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb on Tuesday. In anticipation of potential riots on the day of Nahel’s burial, the French government mobilized an “exceptional” deployment of police and gendarmes. The family’s lawyers requested privacy, referring to the burial day as “a day of reflection” for Nahel’s relatives.

The French national football team, known as Les Bleus, joined the calls for an end to the violence. Captain Kylian Mbappe, a Paris Saint-Germain superstar, posted a statement on social media, expressing shock over Nahel’s death and urging a transition from violence to mourning, dialogue, and reconstruction.

The city of Marseille, which President Emmanuel Macron visited earlier in the week, witnessed clashes and looting once again, particularly in neglected working-class neighbourhoods. Marseille police reported making 88 arrests overnight, primarily of young people wearing masks and engaging in mobile looting. A supermarket fire, suspected to be linked to the riots, also occurred.

Other cities affected by the unrest included Grenoble, Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Angers, and Tours, with confrontations between hooded protesters and police. The Paris region also witnessed incidents of violence and arson.

Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne cancelled large-scale events across the country, including two concerts by singer Mylene Farmer. Concerns have been raised about the impact of the unrest on France’s tourism industry, as hotels and restaurants faced cancellations.

President Macron called on parents to take responsibility for underage rioters, emphasizing that one-third of those involved were young or very young. He condemned the “unacceptable exploitation of a death of an adolescent” and pledged to collaborate with social networks to curb the spread of copycat violence through platforms like TikTok and Snapchat.

The unrest has attracted international attention, raising concerns ahead of the Rugby World Cup and the Paris Olympic Games. Countries like Britain and others in Europe have updated their travel advice, warning tourists to avoid areas affected by the riots.

The killing of 17-year-old Nahel has reignited long-standing grievances regarding policing and racial profiling in France’s low-income and multi-ethnic suburbs. Nahel’s mother, Mounia, in her first media interview since the shooting, blamed the officer responsible for her son’s death. The UN rights office called for France to address the deep issues of racism and racial discrimination in law enforcement, a claim the French foreign ministry dismissed as unfounded.