Nahel Merzouk riots: Difference between revisions

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Nahel M. riots
Date	June 27, 2023 - ongoing
Location	Paris
Caused by	Reactions to the killing of Nahel M.
Methods	Riots, Arson, Looting
Status	ongoing
Parties
Law enforcement in France Rioters
Casualties
Injuries	170 officers injured[1]
Arrested	150 rioters arrested

The Nahel M. riots are an ongoing series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in France. Unrest began in France on June 28, after the killing of Nahel M. at the hands of an unknown police officer. Riots and arson continued for a second day.^[2] There has been reports of an ENEDIS building being set on fire and it having a risk of exploding. The fire was done at the hands of the rioters.^[3]

There has been reports that the police station of Bagnolet has been ransacked and set on fire by a group of rioters.^[4]

Riots were firstly reported on June 27 after Nahel's death in Nanterre. The death was watched worldwide which fueled the riots even more. There were riots in Nanterre and the place where the boy was killed, there were also protests in Paris. Rioters threw projectiles at police, set off fireworks, set cars, bus shelters, rubbish bins, and a music school on fire. Fires were also lit near the tracks of the RER A.^[5] This rioting lasted until Wednesday in Nanterre and other areas, including Clichy-sous-Bois, Colombes, and Roubaix. By the end of the day, there were at least 20 police officers injured, 10 police cars damaged, and 31 arrested.^[6]In response to the very violent riots, France deployed 2,000 police officers and soldiers of the gendarmerie to deal with the outbreaks of riots.^[7]

Riots were reported in Amiens, Dijon, Lyon, Lille, Saint-Étienne, Clermont-Ferrand, Strasbourg, spreading beyond Paris' metropolitan area.^[8] French media reported numerous incidents around the Greater Paris region. There were reports of fireworks being directed at the Montreuil Town Hall which is located at the eastern edge of Paris.^[9] Fresnes Prison was also targeted by fireworks.^[10] In Toulouse, arson and clashes between 100 demonstrators and police in the Reynerie district resulted in 13 arrested and 20 vehicles burned.^[8] There were attacks on 27 national police stations (including 7 by arson), 4 gendarmerie barracks, 14 municipal police stations (including 10 by arson), 8 town halls, 6 schools, and 6 public buildings reported. ^[11] Clashing and the burning of vehicles continued in Nanterre, police stations in Suresnes, Bois-Colombes and Gennevilliers as well as municipal police stations in Meudon were attacked. Fires were set at media libraries, a construction machine in Clichy-sous-Bois, a school in Puteaux, and a tram in Clamart. Looting was reported in Colombes and town halls were attacked in Meudon and Châtenay-Malabry.^[12] In total, more than 90 public buildings have been attacked.^[1] In Paris, clashes erupted in the 18th and 19th arrondissements, while fires were set in the 15th arrondissement.^[10]

Nationwide, at least 150 people were arrested^[8], 170 police officers, 609 vehicles, and 109 buildings were damaged.^[11]

6,200 people participated in a march in support of Nahel's family at 2 PM. By evening, tensions erupted on the sidelines and the BRI were sent to the scene. Buses and trams stopped running by evening to prevent damage and several communes such as Clamart, Compiègne, and Savigny-le-Temple implemented curfews, with Savigny-le-Temple implementing only for minors.^[11] There's also more reports of clashes with the police and more looting, arson and tyre burning primary in the Paris, Nanterre and Marseille.^[13][14][15]