French policeman charged over teen's killing as protests continue
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Nahel M. was killed in cold blood by a French police officer on Tuesday, sparking outrage in France.
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The mother of killed 17-year-old Nahel, at left on truck, during a march for Nahel, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in Nanterre (AP)
The police officer responsible for the shooting has been accused and held in jail pending trial, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors announced Thursday that a French police officer has been accused and held in jail pending trial in connection with the shooting death of a teenager at point-blank range, which provoked widespread demonstrations.
According to regional prosecutors, the investigating magistrate accused the officer of voluntary murder and placed him on temporary arrest following the event.
This comes amid ongoing protests against the killing of 17-year-old Nahel M. at the hands of police in Hauts-de-Seine, which left France in unrest as overnight protests roamed the country in all its corners.
Nahel was shot in the chest at point-blank range on Tuesday in the western region of Paris after he was pulled over for allegedly breaking traffic rules in a yellow Mercedes. His mother called for a march on Thursday in tribute to her only child.
Thousands rallied in Nanterre with the mother of Nahel on Thursday in a march to honor him. "No justice, no peace!", the crowds yelled, adding, "Everyone hates the police."
Tensions have been rising with protesters throwing projectiles at police buildings, causing the police to fire tear gas at them.
An anonymous police source confirmed that nearly 6,200 people participated in the protests. Signs like "Police kill," and "Our lives are in danger" were held at the protest.
According to Assa Traore, a famous activist against police brutality who lost a brother after he was detained in 2016, stated that "the whole world must see that when we march for Nahel, we march for all those who were not filmed."
France's Green Party Sabrina Sebaihi's MP expressed that "this march is a moment of meditation and mourning for the family, it is important to respect it."
France ordered the mobilization of tens of thousands of police officers on Thursday to avoid further escalation of violence.
Cars and garbage were set on fire in various areas of the country, and 150 individuals were detained nationally following fights and rioting that included a tramway carriage being set on fire in a Paris neighborhood.
On Thursday, Macron called for an early morning crisis meeting of his ministers and urged calm. He branded the overnight clashes "unjustifiable" and told the meeting the "last few hours have been marked by scenes of violence against police stations, but also schools and town halls... against institutions and the Republic."
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said 40,000 police officers will be deployed across France on Thursday, more than four times the number on the ground on Wednesday, with 5,000 assigned to Paris alone.
According to Valerie Pecresse on Twitter, bus and tram services will be halted following their targeting during protests.
In 2005, France saw similar riots after the death of two African teens after a police chase.
A government advisor told AFP that "there are all the ingredients for another explosion potentially."
Last year, 13 individuals were killed after refusing to stop for police traffic checks, and a 2017 legislative amendment that allowed cops the wider authority to fire their guns is now being questioned.
Commenting on the incident, Greens Party leader Marine Tondelier said, "What I see on this video is the execution by police of a 17-year-old kid, in France, in 2023, in broad daylight."
However, far-right leader Marine Le Pen claimed that the police officer involved was entitled to the "presumption of innocence."
