At least forty-thousand police officers are being deployed across France after riots spread across the country overnight, the Interior minister told reporters.
“The state must be firm in its response, tonight 40,000 policemen will be mobilized, including 5,000 in the Paris region, versus 9,000 yesterday,” Gerald Darmanin said.
The violent protest followed the deadly police shooting of a teenager of North African descent on Tuesday during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb.
The teenager, identified as Nahil M, was shot as he drove away after refusing a traffic stop.
The police officer who shot Nahil is being investigated for voluntary homicide.
More than 180 people have been arrested with 170 officers injured after a second night of violence, the interior minister said, describing the unrest as “intolerable.”
“A night of intolerable violence against symbols of the republic, with town halls, schools and police stations set on fire or attacked,” Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin wrote on Twitter as he announced the arrests figure, and expressed support for police.
“This wasn’t about small protest. It was about a small group of people deciding to attack the symbols of the republic… When you attack schools or community centres or city halls, you attack symbols.”
“Shame on those who did not call for calm,” he added.
He vowed to restore “justice, calm and freedom.”
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.
