Nahel laid to rest in a Muslim ceremony

Family and friends of Nahel Merzouk, whose fatal shooting sparked the protests, gathered on Saturday for the teenager’s funeral in the Paris suburb of Nanterre where he died. Hundreds of mourners, most belonging to France's Muslim community, stood along the road to pay tribute as Nahel's kin carried his casket from a mosque to the burial site.

Macron cancels state visit to Germany

French President Emmanuel Macron postponed a state visit to Germany that was to begin on Sunday due to ongoing unrest. He spoke on the phone on Saturday with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and briefed him on the situation, a spokesperson for the German president said. Macron's visit would have been the first state visit by a French president to Germany in 23 years.

Mass police deployment amid upheaval

The government deployed 45,000 police to city streets across the nation to tackle the fifth night of violence. So far, hundreds of police and firefighters have been injured, including 79 overnight, but authorities haven’t released injury tallies for protesters, reported AP.

More than 1,300 people were arrested in France by the fourth night of rioting, and some 2,800 people have been detained overall since Nahel's death on Tuesday.

Rioting subsides by fifth night

As per the Interior Minsitry, skirmishes erupted in Marseille but appeared less intense than the night before, and nationwide arrests were somewhat lower than the night before, which Minister Gerald Darmanin attributed to “the resolute action of security forces.”

Amid heightened security, violence appears to subside in France by fifth night: 5 points

The fatal shooting of a teenager, Nahel of Algerian and Moroccan descent, by a police officer has enraged people in France, triggering a crisis and posing a new challenge to Emmanuel Macron's leadership.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | July 2, 2023 09:37 PM IST

1 min read

Police officers patrol in front of the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs Elysees in Paris, Saturday, July 1, 202

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Clashes between rioters and police continued for a fifth night on late Saturday and early Sunday in France, as young protesters targeted a mayor’s home. However, violence appeared to be subsiding in contrast to the previous nights. On early Sunday, French police made 719 arrests nationwide, assisted by heightened security deployment, reported AP.

The fatal shooting of Nahel, a teenager of Algerian and Moroccan descent, by a police officer has enraged people in France, triggering a crisis and posing a new challenge to Emmanuel Macron’s leadership. The purported video of the shooting has reignited the debate around racism and police violence in the country.

Here is a rundown on the latest developments amidst the unrest:

01
Nahel laid to rest in a Muslim ceremony
Family and friends of Nahel Merzouk, whose fatal shooting sparked the protests, gathered on Saturday for the teenager’s funeral in the Paris suburb of Nanterre where he died.

Hundreds of mourners, most belonging to France's Muslim community, stood along the road to pay tribute as Nahel's kin carried his casket from a mosque to the burial site.
02
Macron cancels state visit to Germany
French President Emmanuel Macron postponed a state visit to Germany that was to begin on Sunday due to ongoing unrest. He spoke on the phone on Saturday with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and briefed him on the situation, a spokesperson for the German president said.

Macron's visit would have been the first state visit by a French president to Germany in 23 years.
03
Mass police deployment amid upheaval
The government deployed 45,000 police to city streets across the nation to tackle the fifth night of violence. So far, hundreds of police and firefighters have been injured, including 79 overnight, but authorities haven’t released injury tallies for protesters, reported AP.
04
Arrests mount
More than 1,300 people were arrested in France by the fourth night of rioting, and some 2,800 people have been detained overall since Nahel's death on Tuesday.
05
Rioting subsides by fifth night
As per the Interior Minsitry, skirmishes erupted in Marseille but appeared less intense than the night before, and nationwide arrests were somewhat lower than the night before, which Minister Gerald Darmanin attributed to “the resolute action of security forces.”