A 17-year-old boy was shot dead by the police in Paris, the capital of France. Allegedly, a police officer shot him at point blank range (absolutely in front) in the car for violating traffic laws. Various cities of France, including Paris, protested against this incident. At least 150 arrests have been reported since the protests.
According to Al Jazeera, the name of the teenager who was killed was Nahel M. Two police officers stopped his car at a checkpoint while driving a yellow Mercedes in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris, on Tuesday morning. At that time, Nahel was shot due to a verbal dispute.
Police then claimed that an officer fired in self-defense when the teenager tried to drive over police officers after stopping his car. But the video circulating on social media showed a different picture of this claim. In the footage, two policemen are seen leaning against the window of the car with firearms pointed at the driver.
One can be heard saying, 'Bullets will blow your head off...'. At that time, as soon as the car started moving, shots were fired at the driver from point blank range. The car hit a pole a few meters ahead. Nahel died on the spot.
There were two passengers in the car at the time of the incident. One of them escaped, the second is a minor. He was first arrested but later released by the police.
On the other hand, the 38-year-old accused police officer has been taken into custody. A case has been filed against him.
After the video footage went viral, the streets of France erupted in protests on Tuesday afternoon. The protestors say that the footage did not capture the police trying to run over them. Why was Nahel shot in the chest?
The protests have led to attacks on important buildings and police stations in various cities. 24 policemen were injured, more than 40 vehicles were burnt.
French celebrities are also shocked by this incident. French football star Kylian Mbappe tweeted, 'I am sad for France. This situation is not acceptable. A boy like a little flower, Nahel left the world so soon!'
Actor Omar Sai said, 'Only justice can become a child's proper tribute.'
Several rights activists and politicians have called for the police department to be overhauled in the case of the killing of that teenager.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the shooting "unforgivable". He said, 'There can be no justification for killing a baby boy. It is an unpardonable crime.”
French celebrities are also shocked by this incident. French football star Kylian Mbappe tweeted, 'I am sad for France. This situation is not acceptable. A boy like a little flower, Nahel left the world so soon!'
After the video footage went viral, the streets of France erupted in protests on Tuesday afternoon. The protestors say that the footage did not capture the police trying to run over them. Why was Nahel shot in the chest?
However, the attacks on important buildings and police stations from the protests were called "terrible violence" by the country's Interior Minister Gerald Darmenian. "Shame on those who don't want peace," he said.
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