French police arrested over 1,300 individuals and President Emmanuel Macron canceled a planned visit to Germany as the funeral for Nahel M., a young man whose death by police gunfire sparked unrest across the country, took place. The government deployed 45,000 police officers and several armored vehicles to respond to the worst crisis Macron has faced since the "Yellow Vest" protests that paralyzed France in late 2018. Macron postponed the state visit to Germany that was set to begin on Sunday.
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire stated that over 700 stores, restaurants, and bank branches have been "looted, robbed, and sometimes burned to the ground since Tuesday." Local authorities across the country imposed bans on demonstrations and ordered public transport to cease operations in the evening. Nahel M. (17), of Algerian-Moroccan descent, was shot dead by police during a traffic inspection in the Nanterre suburb on Tuesday.
Hundreds lined up to enter the Grand Mosque of Nanterre, which was being guarded by volunteers wearing yellow vests, while a few dozen onlookers watched from across the street. Mourners gathered in the street for the funeral prayer. Salsabil, a young woman of Arab descent, told Reuters that she came to express her support for Nahel's family. She added, "I think it's important for all of us to stand together." Mary (60), who has lived in Nanterre for 50 years, noted that issues with the police there are ongoing, saying, "That must stop completely. The government is completely disconnected from our reality."
The young man’s death, captured on camera, reignited long-standing complaints from low-income, mixed-race urban areas about police violence and racism. Macron denied the existence of systemic racism in French law enforcement. A young man who wished to remain anonymous remarked, "If your skin color is not suitable, the police will be more dangerous to you," adding that he was one of Nahel’s friends.
Thieves set fire to 2,000 vehicles since the outbreak of riots that spread to cities including Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, and Lille. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin noted that over 200 police officers were injured, with the average age of those arrested being 17. Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti stated that 30 percent of those detained were under 18 years old. The arrests on Friday night included 80 individuals in Marseille, which has a significant population of North African descent. Social media posts showed an explosion shaking the old port area of Marseille, but there were no reports of casualties. Police reported that rioters in downtown Marseille looted a firearms store and stole some hunting rifles, though no ammunition was taken.
Mayor of Marseille Benoît Payan requested the government to send additional forces to address "looting and violence" in a city where three police officers sustained minor injuries. In Lyon, France's third-largest city, security forces deployed armored personnel carriers and a helicopter, and the mayor requested reinforcements. Police cleared the iconic Place de la Concorde in central Paris of protesters. The unrest recalled the riots that erupted across the country in 2005, which forced then-President Jacques Chirac to declare a state of emergency following the deaths of two teenagers electrocuted while hiding from the police.
In response to a question about whether the government could declare a state of emergency, Darmanin stated on Friday, "We simply do not exclude any possibilities and we will see after tonight what the President of the Republic will choose." National soccer team players issued a rare statement calling for calm. Star Kylian Mbappé shared the statement on his Instagram account, emphasizing, "The violence must stop in order for us to mourn, dialogue, and rebuild." Events, including two concerts at Stade de France in the suburbs of Paris, were canceled. The organizers of the Tour de France indicated they are prepared to adapt to any situation as the event moves to the country on Monday after starting in Spain.
Videos on social media showed urban areas ablaze. A tram in Lyon was set on fire, and 12 buses burned at a station in Aubervilliers, just north of Paris. Darmanin met with representatives from Meta, Twitter, Snapchat, and TikTok. Snapchat stated it does not tolerate content that promotes violence. The police officer, who prosecutors say admitted to firing the fatal shot at the young man, is in custody under formal investigation for murder. His lawyer, Laurent Frank-Linard, stated that his client intended to aim for the driver's leg but stumbled when the car suddenly took off, resulting in gunfire directed at the chest. Frank-Linard commented on BFM TV, "It is clear that (the officer) did not want to kill the driver."
