Several cities in France experienced sporadic violence and looting during a fourth night of protests following the fatal police shooting of a teenager.
However, authorities noted that the intensity was significantly reduced compared to previous nights.
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On Friday, despite the presence of security forces, acts of looting occurred in Lyon, Marseille, and Grenoble, where groups of masked rioters ransacked shops.
In response, France deployed 45,000 officers, along with light armored vehicles and specialized police units, across the country to quell the violence that erupted after Nahel’s death during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb on Tuesday.
During the Friday night disturbances, protesters also set fire to cars and trash bins.
However, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, during a visit to Mantes-la-Jolie, stated early Saturday morning that the level of violence was significantly lower.
Nationwide, there were 471 arrests and pockets of tension, particularly in Marseille and Lyon.
Darmanin had previously announced an “exceptional” mobilization of police and gendarmes in an effort to prevent a fourth consecutive night of riots before Nahel’s burial, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday in the Paris suburb of Nanterre, his hometown and the location of his death.
Lawyers representing Nahel’s family requested that journalists refrain from attending the burial, considering it a day of reflection for the relatives.
In Nanterre’s Vieux Pont district, where the unrest was concentrated, numerous police vans were strategically positioned.
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President Macron appealed to parents to take responsibility for the underage rioters, a significant portion of whom were young or very young.
He also condemned the exploitation of Nahel’s death in certain circles and pledged to collaborate with social networks like TikTok and Snapchat to combat the spread of copycat violence.
