471 arrested in France as protests continues against the police killing of a teenager

PARIS: At least 471 people were arrested overnight across France as violent protests against the police killing of a teenager continued for a fourth straight night, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin announced. In a statement, he said a “downturn” was witnessed in the unrest on Friday, with 471 arrests compared to the 917 the previous night, reports the BBC.

Although the situation in the Paris region was calmer in the Paris region, things remained tense in Marseille and Lyon, he added. The Minister said in a tweet that reinforcements would be sent to Marseille following reports by the local mayor of violence and looting.

The government had deployed 45,000 police personnel, special units, armored vehicles and helicopters to maintain law and order and keep the violence in check.

But despite this, widespread violence, vandalism and looting took place in cities across the country, with buildings and vehicles set on fire.

Protests continued into the early hours of Saturday morning in defiance of a ban announced on Friday on all “large-scale events” in the country, with rioting breaking out in several cities, CNN quoted the local BFMTV as saying in a report.

Social media footages of Lyon showed rapid gunfire from an automatic rifle at night, fireworks being released at a protest and demonstrators next to burning fires.

There was an explosion in the Old Port of Marseille on Friday evening, according to BFMTV, but no casualties had been reported.

It also shared video showing damage to the Alcazar library in Marseille which it said had been vandalised during the night. The unrest is in response to the death of 17-year-old Nahel, who was shot dead during a traffic stop on Tuesday morning in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, CNN reported. (IANS)

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