Nation on Edge: Violence and Devastation on French Streets
Nation on Edge: Violence and Devastation on French Streets
Sputnik International
The violence in France has obvious ethnic roots and obvious political implications, since current authorities seem unable or unwilling to restore peace and order.
France has already seen several consecutive nights of political unrest and violence that followed the death of a 17-year-old boy of Algerian descent, Nahel Merzouk, who was shot by police during a traffic stop on June 27. Details of the incident are controversial, but according to a witness (the passenger of the car), officers bullied and threatened the teenager before putting a bullet through his head.Despite the fact that the alleged killer was quickly put under investigation over charges of voluntary homicide, violent protests erupted in France, soon escalating into rioting and looting. Protesters have burnt down administrative buildings and set over 3,800 cars on fire. Moreover, nearly 250 bank offices, 200 stores and about ten shopping malls were looted. Over 3,000 people were detained, including youngsters.French authorities are yet to provide any roadmap out of this crisis. Emmanuel Macron has blamed video games for the street violence - and was immediately mocked for his "level of analysis".Follow Sputnik's photo gallery to see the aftermath of the riots!
The violence in France has obvious ethnic roots and political implications, since current authorities seem unable or unwilling to restore peace and order.
France has already seen several consecutive nights of political unrest and violence that followed the death of a 17-year-old boy of Algerian descent, Nahel Merzouk, who was shot by police during a traffic stop on June 27. Details of the incident are controversial, but according to a witness (the passenger of the car), officers bullied and threatened the teenager before putting a bullet through his head.
Despite the fact that the alleged killer was quickly put under investigation over charges of voluntary homicide, violent protests erupted in France, soon escalating into rioting and looting. Protesters have burnt down administrative buildings and set over 3,800 cars on fire. Moreover, nearly 250 bank offices, 200 stores and about ten shopping malls were looted. Over 3,000 people were detained, including youngsters.
French authorities are yet to provide any roadmap out of this crisis. Emmanuel Macron has blamed video games for the street violence - and was immediately mocked for his "level of analysis".
Follow Sputnik's photo gallery to see the aftermath of the riots!
Employees gesture in a damaged and looted clothing shop, with "sales" written on placards in the background in the centre of Marseille, southern France.
Municipal police officers stand in front of the damaged home of the Mayor of l'Hay-les-Roses Vincent Jeanbrun in a suburb of Paris after rioters rammed a vehicle into the building injuring the mayor's wife and one of his children.
A pedestrian walks past a damaged and burnt merchandise truck near an Aldi store in the Les Flamants neighbourhood, in the north of Marseille, southern France.
Newsfeed
0
Access to the chat has been blocked for violating the rules .
You will be able to participate again through:∞.
If you do not agree with the blocking, please use the feedback form
The discussion is closed. You can participate in the discussion within 24 hours after the publication of the article.
![Employees gesture in a damaged and looted clothing shop, with "sales" written on placards in the background in the centre of Marseille, southern France. - Sputnik International](https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/07/03/1111635567_0:0:3072:2048_600x0_80_0_1_edca301f51fe7632bae5673901aceeea.jpg "Employees gesture in a damaged and looted clothing shop, with "sales" written on placards in the background in the centre of Marseille, southern France.")
