France in Chaos: Buses and Trams Halted Amid Furious Protests
France is at breaking point. After a police shooting of a 17-year-old in Nanterre, Paris suburbs, violent protests have erupted nationwide. Furious demonstrators have torched cars and battled police with stones and fireworks for three nights running.
Macron Calls on Parents to Keep Teens Indoors
President Emmanuel Macron has urged parents to keep their teenagers off the streets to help stop the rioting. He blasted social media for fuelling the unrest, saying it plays a “significant role” in spreading copycat violence across French cities.
Mass Arrests and Heavy Police Deployment Fail to Quell Violence
Following the teenager’s death, at least 667 people were arrested during Thursday night’s protests. Police presence quadrupled to 40,000 officers nationwide, but tensions show no sign of easing. In Nanterre, protesters set cars on fire, built barricades and hurled objects after a vigil for the teen.
Fires and Explosions Rage Across French Cities
Riots have spread beyond Nanterre to Marseille, Lyon, Pau, Toulouse and Lille. Police report fresh outbreaks of fires and fireworks attacks. In a rare moment of remorse, the officer involved in the shooting has apologised to the victim’s family, his lawyer Laurent-Franck Lienard revealed.
