The French Ministry of the Interior announced significant damages caused by protests that erupted following the death of 17-year-old Nael at the hands of the police. It added that approximately 45,000 police and gendarmerie personnel were deployed overnight across the country. The ministry noted that "demonstrators set fire to 871 public locations, 577 vehicles, and damaged 74 buildings during the fifth night of protests." It reported 719 arrests during the night from Saturday to Sunday, a preliminary result of the unrest that followed the shooting of the Algerian teenager by police.
The intensity of confrontations in France decreased last night as police deployed tens of thousands of officers in cities nationwide following the funeral of the young man, who had North African roots. About 45,000 police officers took to the streets, along with specialized elite units, armored vehicles, and helicopters, to enhance security in the three largest cities: Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. By 01:45 (23:45 GMT) on Sunday, the situation was calmer than in the previous four nights, although some tensions persisted in central Paris and isolated clashes occurred in Marseille, Nice, and Strasbourg.
The hottest point was in Marseille, where police used tear gas to disperse rioters and clashed with youths in the city center late at night. In Paris, police intensified their security presence on the famous Champs-Élysées after a call on social media for a gathering there. Television stations showed shop fronts covered with boards to prevent potential damage.
The French Ministry of the Interior tweeted that police arrested 1,311 people on Friday night compared to 875 the previous night, describing the incidents of violence as "less severe." The police reported that approximately 200 individuals were arrested nationwide on Saturday. It noted that "45,000 police officers and thousands of firefighters were mobilized to enforce order, making last night quieter."
Local authorities across the country imposed bans on demonstrations and ordered the suspension of public transportation in the evenings. The mayor of southern Paris, Vincent Gounbron, announced on Sunday that his home was broken into by a vehicle and set ablaze while his wife and children were sleeping inside. Gounbron wrote on Twitter: "At 01:30 AM, while I was in the town hall as in the previous two nights, people broke into my home with a car before setting it on fire while my wife and two small children were sleeping inside." He added, "My wife and one of the children were injured while trying to protect them and escape from the attackers."
The local prosecutor indicated to journalists that an investigation was opened on charges of attempted murder, and no suspects have been arrested. He added, "The wife was injured while fleeing through the backyard of the house."
Looting has also been rampant, with rioters setting fire to around 2,000 vehicles since the unrest began. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated that more than 200 police officers were injured, and the average age of the arrested individuals is 17 years. Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti noted that 30% of those arrested were under 18 years old. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire revealed that over 700 shops, restaurants, and bank branches have been "looted, robbed, and sometimes completely burned down since Tuesday."
In Marseille, police reported detaining 60 people and had arrested 80 individuals on Friday. In Lyon, France's third-largest city, security forces deployed armored personnel carriers and helicopters, with the mayor requesting reinforcements. A decree was issued on Saturday granting Paris police the right to deploy drones in some suburbs of the capital.
The unrest evoked memories of riots that broke out across the country for three weeks in 2005, forcing then-President Jacques Chirac to declare a state of emergency following the deaths of two teenagers who were electrocuted in an electrical substation while hiding from the police.
Events, including two concerts in France, were canceled on Sunday. President Emmanuel Macron postponed a scheduled state visit to Germany to address what he described as the worst crisis facing his administration since the "Yellow Vest" protests that paralyzed France late in 2018.
Fashion house Celine, owned by the LVMH group, canceled its men's fashion show for 2024, which was set to take place on Sunday. Organizers of the Tour de France stated they are preparing to adapt to any situation as the event moves to the country on Monday after launching from Spain. Snapchat confirmed that it does not tolerate content that promotes violence.
Funeral services for Nael M. (17 years old), who was of Algerian-Moroccan descent, were held after he was shot by police during a traffic stop in Nanterre. Hundreds lined up to enter the Nanterre Grand Mosque, which was guarded by volunteers wearing yellow vests, as a small number of passersby observed from across the street. Some mourners lined up on the street for the funeral prayer and began to chant as they prepared to pray.
The police officer, who prosecutors say admitted to firing the fatal shot at the young man, is in custody under investigation for murder. His lawyer, Laurent Frank Leonard, stated that his client intended to aim at the motorist's leg but stumbled when the car suddenly took off, causing the shot to hit the young man in the chest. Leonard remarked on television, "It's clear that the officer did not intend to kill the driver."
