Riots broke out at a police station in the multicultural city on the outskirts of Paris on Sunday night after an 18-year-old man died during a police chase.
Molotov cocktails, fireworks and other improvised projectiles were thrown at La Courneuve police station in Seine-Saint-Denis, home to France’s largest foreign-born community. Garbage fires were also set on fire by the agitators.
Paris Police Chief Laurent Nuñez announced on Monday morning that nine people had been arrested in connection with the riots. le figaro I will report.Nuñez Added Two police officers were injured by flying objects in the incident, but did not require hospital treatment.
Security has since been stepped up around the police station and additional officers have been deployed to the area.
The violence was reportedly sparked by the death of 18-year-old Wanis R, who was killed while fleeing police on a scooter with his friends on Sunday. The scooter was dispatched as backup for the pursuit, when it was struck by a crime prevention squad car coming from the opposite direction. The young man, who was thrown from the car, died from his injuries at a hospital.
according to reportWanis R was well known to the police and had recently been released from prison.
Ile-de-France SGP Police FO Spokesperson Reda Belhadj blamed the rioters for the young man’s death, saying: “They were claiming revenge in order to follow up on the events in Aubervilliers,” adding that the mob said they believed this was “premeditated.” Killing.
Le commissariat de La Courneuve. Nine people were called to police by Laurent Nuñez. pic.twitter.com/qzPARmAVBy
— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) March 18, 2024
Similar incidents sparked riots across France last year. In June, Nahel Merzouk, a 17-year-old boy of Algerian descent, was shot and killed by police as he tried to flee a traffic stop. Nanterre on the outskirts of Paris.
News of the deaths quickly spread throughout France’s immigrant communities, sparking the most destructive riots in recent memory. As a result, more than 1,000 buildings were set on fire, 5,600 vehicles were destroyed, and more than 3,300 people were arrested in the first six days of the riots alone.
It is unclear whether the killings will spark similar riots across the country, but with European elections just around the corner, left-wing activists could use them to galvanize voters.
Former presidential candidate for the far-left New Anti-Capitalist Party Philippe Putu celebrated the riots on Sunday night, write About X: “There was a wonderful fireworks display in front of La Courneuve Police Station tonight. I also support the righteous anger over the killing of a young man by the police. A logical continuation of the July 23 rebellion. Racism, discrimination, poverty, poor housing, and oppressive violence are all getting worse. ”
But the riot has also been cited by populists to criticize President Emmanuel Macron. Eric Zemmour, leader of the anti-mass immigration Reconquista party, said: Said:”What is happening in La Courneuve is a daily occurrence in an Islamized region that does not support French police, French law, or France in general. The political class is paralyzed by these people. not me. “
On the other hand, former National Assembly presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, I have written: “Yesterday, new riots broke out in the Seine-Saint-Denis, and a police station was attacked. For seven years, Emmanuel Macron has continued to weaken the authority of the state, plunging France into permanent chaos.” – Support for police officers targeted in Courneuve.
‘Barbarism is back’ in France as Macron’s promise to restore order by Bastille Day comes under fire https://t.co/ezty62gBJv
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) July 14, 2023
