Riots in France Subsiding after Five Days of Violent Protests
PARIS – The riots in France that erupted in response to the shooting of teenager Nahel M during a police traffic stop seem to be calming after five days of violent protests. On Sunday night, more than 150 people were arrested, marking a significant decrease compared to the previous night’s arrests of over 700 individuals.
Efforts to quell the violence have been made by various parties, including Nahel’s family, who have called for an end to the unrest. Mayors across the country have also urged citizens to gather outside town halls on Monday to protest the violence and looting.
While many are relieved to see a decline in the intensity of the riots, some officials emphasize the importance of addressing the issue that sparked the unrest in the first place. In Nahel’s hometown of Nanterre, mayor Patrick Jarry expressed satisfaction that the violence had subsided but urged everyone not to forget “the incident that sparked this situation and the continuing need for justice.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by the mayor of Reims, who condemned the looting of businesses, urging the state to be firm in order to preserve the republic. A press release from an association of the country’s mayors highlighted the gravity of the situation, stating that “communes everywhere in France are the scene of serious unrest, which targets republican symbols with extreme violence.”
Since the start of the unrest, rioters have caused damage to multiple town halls across France and attempted to set several of them on fire. However, Sunday night’s numbers indicated a significant decrease in incidents compared to the previous week. Only 297 cars were set on fire compared to the 1,900 recorded on Thursday, while 34 buildings suffered damage or were set ablaze compared to the 500-plus incidents on Thursday.
French President Emmanuel Macron will meet with the mayors of 220 municipal areas affected by the violence on Tuesday, aiming to address the concerns and grievances of the affected communities.
Tragically, on Sunday, a 24-year-old fireman lost his life while attempting to extinguish cars set ablaze in an underground car park in Seine-Saint-Denis, north of Paris. The Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, stated that there is no formal link between this incident and the ongoing violence; however, an investigation is underway to determine the circumstances of the fire.
To maintain peace and order, approximately 45,000 officers have been deployed across the country for the third straight day. Over the weekend, Nahel’s family called for calm, appealing to rioters to stop using Nahel’s death as an excuse for destroying public property. Nahel’s grandmother also expressed her distress over a GoFundMe page that has raised over €923,000 (£792,880) for the family of the police officer who shot Nahel.
As the unrest gradually subsides, France will continue to address the root causes of this wave of violence, seeking justice and preventing further chaos from engulfing the nation.