Global InformationNahel Merzouk riots information
| Nahel Merzouk riots | |
|---|---|
Urban violence in Planoise (Besançon) | |
| Date | 27 June – 15 July 2023 (19 days) |
| Location | France and other French-speaking territories |
| Caused by | Killing of Nahel Merzouk |
| Methods | Riots, civil disobedience, civil resistance, protests, arson, shooting, looting[1] |
| Casualties, arrests, and damages | |
| Death(s) | 2 confirmed[2] |
| Injuries | 808 officers;[3] civil not determined |
| Arrested | 3,300+[4] |
| Damage | €650 million[5] |
| Property damage | 1,000+ buildings damaged 5,662 vehicles burned[6] |
A series of riots in France began on 27 June 2023 following the fatal shooting of Nahel Merzouk in an encounter with two police officers in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. Residents started a protest outside the police headquarters on the 27 June, which later escalated into rioting as demonstrators set cars alight, destroyed bus stops, and shot fireworks at police.[7] In Viry-Châtillon, a town just south of Paris with a history of violence towards police,[8] a group of teenagers set a bus ablaze.[9]
In Mantes-la-Jolie, a town 40 km northwest of Paris,[10] the town hall was set ablaze after being firebombed[11] on the night of 27 June, burning until 03:15 (CEST).[9] Clashes continued throughout the night across France, including Toulouse and Lille.[9] Unrest was also reported in Asnières, Colombes, Suresnes, Aubervilliers, Clichy-sous-Bois and Mantes-la-Jolie.[12]
By 29 June, over 150 people had been arrested,[13] 24 officers had been injured, and 40 cars had been torched.[14][15] Fearing greater unrest, Gérald Darmanin, Interior Minister of France, deployed 1,200 riot police and gendarmes in and around Paris, later adding an additional 2,000.[9][14][15] On 29 June, Darmanin announced that the government would deploy 40,000 officers nationwide,[16] including RAID and GIGN counter-terrorist units,[17] to quell the violence. After 4 July, the intensity of the unrest dropped drastically,[18] and were reportedly over by 15 July.[19][20]
- ^ "France riots: The Champs Elysees was saved from looting – but only by a massive show of force". Sky News. Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 2 July 2023.
- ^ "Un homme décède en Guyane en marge des émeutes déclenchées par la mort de Nahel" [A man dies in French Guiana on the sidelines of the riots triggered by the death of Nahel]. Le HuffPost (in French). 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
- ^ Abboud, Leila; Klasa, Adrienne (5 July 2023). "Emmanuel Macron walks tightrope with French police after teenager's death". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 8 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
Since Merzouk was killed, 808 officers have been injured in clashes with protesters and rioters, according to the interior minister.
- ^ "How an early morning drive led to a death that would tear France apart". The Daily Telegraph. 4 July 2023. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
- ^ Chazan, David (11 July 2023). "French riots caused €650m of damage, say insurers". The Times. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ Cousin, Victor; Alexandre, Victor (3 July 2023). "Interpellations, voitures brûlées, bâtiments dégradés ... Les émeutes en chiffres, nuit par nuit" [Arrests, burned cars, damaged buildings ... The riots in numbers, night by night]. Le Parisien (in French). Archived from the original on 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
- ^ "France braces for further protests after police kill teenager". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
dépêche.frwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ a b c d Breeden, Aurelien; Méheut, Constant (28 June 2023). "Protests and Sorrow After Fatal Police Traffic Encounter in France". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Rabemanantsoa, Anna; Winsor, Morgan. "Teenager's death during police traffic stop sparks violent unrest in Paris suburb". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ Mortimer, Gavin (28 June 2023). "France erupts in violence after police shoot dead a teenager". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "Anger in Paris after police kill teen in traffic stop". BBC News. 27 June 2023. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ Chrisafis, Angelique; Paris, Angelique Chrisafisin (29 June 2023). "France police shooting: 150 arrests as protests widen over teenager's death". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ a b Brudeau, Cain. "Riots, racial tensions erupt in France after fatal police shooting". Courthouse News Service. Archived from the original on 29 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ a b Bisset, Victoria; Suliman, Adela (28 June 2023). "Protests erupt in Paris after police shoot, kill teen during traffic stop". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
- ^ "France to deploy 40,000 officers in wake of riot". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 29 June 2023.
- ^ "More police, armored vehicles will be deployed to contain riots in France". Le Monde. 30 June 2023. Archived from the original on 30 June 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
calmingwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "French Researchers Warn Of A Major Explosion In France Due To Racist Crimes – الشروق أونلاين". 23 October 2023. Archived from the original on 23 October 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.
- ^ "'Nahel M.'s death is part of the historical continuity of racist crimes committed against Blacks and Arabs in France'". Le Monde.fr. 15 July 2023. Retrieved 26 December 2023.