Nearly 900 arrests have been reported as protests continue in France in response to the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old.
The shooting, per a report from the Associated Press, took place on Tuesday in a suburb of Paris. The teen, identified in a statement from the family’s legal team as Nahel M., was fatally shot during a traffic stop in the area. While local authorities initially attempted to argue that responding officers had fired on the teen due to concerns over their own safety, the family’s lawyers disputed this explanation by pointing to footage they argue shows the opposite.
The teen’s mother, Mounia, spoke with local outlet France 5 on Thursday. During the emotional interview, she said she doesn't “blame the police” for her son’s death. “I blame one person, the one who took my son’s life,” she said.
Nahel’s mother has been seen amid the ensuing protests; in the footage below, for example, she’s seen addressing protesters while wearing a “Justice for Nahel" t-shirt. The phrase has become a unifying cry for accountability in the country as protests have continued for days.
In a statement shared Friday, France’s Interior Ministry said 40,000 police officers and military officials had been “mobilized to fight against public order disturbances.” As of Friday morning, police said they had arrested 875 people amid protests.
The officer who allegedly shot and killed the teen is currently facing a preliminary charge of voluntary homicide, per the Associated Press. President Emmanuel Macron said in an initial statement that the fatal shooting was “inexplicable and inexcusable.” In more recent comments, including those delivered following a second crisis team meeting, Macron has been more critical of the ensuing protests—specifically instances in which escalations occurred including fires and more.
Macron has also highlighted what he sees as social media’s role, all while urging parents to ensure their children stay at home for the time being.
Here in the States, the Biden administration has not yet publicly commented on the shooting. Meanwhile, calls for justice have continued on a global scale.
