France braces for more violence as Paris suburb declares curfew

Kathmandu: France braced for another feared eruption of urban rioting on Thursday night after the deadly police shooting of a suburban 17-year-old, with tens of thousands of officers patrolling the streets and commuters rushing home before transport services closed down early for safety reasons.

Despite government appeals for calm and vows that order would be restored, smoke from cars and rubbish set ablaze was already billowing over the streets of the Paris suburb of Nanterre following a peaceful afternoon march in honour of the teen identified only by his first name, Nahel.

Police initially reported that he was shot after driving his car at police, but this was contradicted by a video that rapidly went viral across social media and was later authenticated by AFP. The footage shows the two policemen standing by the stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver.

A voice is heard saying, ‘You are going to get a bullet in the head.’ The police officer then appears to fire as the car abruptly drives off before gradually coming to a stop.

Curfews have been imposed in some parts of France along with transport cancellations as tensions simmer over the police shooting of the teenager in Nanterre.

The police officer accused of pulling the trigger was handed a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide after prosecutor Pascal Prache said his initial investigation led him to conclude ‘the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met.’

The incident has so far caused two nights of violent unrest in the capital and cities across France that have seen protesters clash with police. Authorities said at least 150 people were arrested overnight.

France’s interior minister said 40,000 police officers will be deployed on Thursday night to quell further outbreaks of violence and the teenager’s suburb has been placed under curfew unil Monday.

A silent march was set to take place in Nanterre on Thursday to honour Nahel, however, police and angry protestors clashed alongside the famlies tribute.