France Riots: Over 1,300 Arrested Nationwide
DW
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France's fourth consecutive night of riots over the police killing of a 17-year-old has seen over 1,350 cars torched, as part of 2,560 fires started on public roads, France's Interior Ministry said.
Police deployed some 45,000 officers on Friday night, including special units, to contain the violence.
Despite the heavy security presence, authorities said 31 police stations were attacked.
Wave of arrests continues as police vie for control
French police made 1,311 arrests on Friday night, the interior ministry said on Saturday, reporting 2,500 fires.
The number of those rounded up was the highest since the riots broke out earlier in the week.
Nevertheless, interior minister Gerald Darmanin claimed the violence was of "much less intensity."
The interior ministry reported a decrease in the number of fires started, cars burned and police stations attacked, compared to the night before.
Authorities said 79 police and firefighters were injured overnight. No tally for injured protesters was made available.
Darmanin ordered all public buses and trams nationwide to shut down during nighttime. Public transport vehicles have been targets of the rioters.
The interior minister also urged social media platforms not to allow themselves to be used as channels for calls to violence. He said the platforms were "very cooperative."
Family of 17-year-old slain boy prepares for burial
The 17-year-old kid whose death sparked the riots is to be buried on Saturday.
The youth was shot at point-blank range when he drove off at a traffic stop in Nanterre on Tuesday morning.
Previously, Nahel's mother told France 5 TV that she was angry at the officer who killed her son but not at the police in general.
"He saw a little Arab-looking kid, he wanted to take his life," the mother, who is of Algerian roots, said.
Nanterre Mayor Jarry said France needed to "push for changes'' in disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
This article was originally published on DW.
This article went live on July first, two thousand twenty three, at thirty-nine minutes past three in the afternoon.
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