400+ arrested as third night of violent protest sweeps France
The Figaro newspaper, citing sources in the French Interior Ministry, reported that more than 400 people were detained during the riots caused by the death of a 17-year-old teenager, RIA Novosti reports
The French Interior Ministry said, “In total, 421 violators were detained on Friday night, most of them are young people aged 14 to 18. These record detentions reflect the firm instructions the minister has given to the prefects and the police.”
On June 27th, police officers shot and killed a 17-year-old boy during a road check in Nanterre, a suburb west of Paris, who, according to police, refused to comply with their demands. As a result, riots broke out in a number of cities, which have been going on for two days.
The French authorities urged citizens to ‘calm down’, while demanding a fair investigation into this case. The French President called the incident ‘inexplicable and inexcusable’, adding that ‘nothing justifies the death of a young man’. The PM said that the police acted ‘outside the bounds of what is permitted’.
Macron will convene a new crisis meeting today amid a wave of mob violence that engulfed France, BFM reported.
