Two nights of widespread riots have taken place across the nation as a result of the death of a 17-year-old.
According to the Nanterre district prosecutor Pascal Prache, the French police officer who killed a teenager during a traffic check earlier this week did not comply with the “legal requirements for the usage of firearms.”
Prache reported on Thursday that the officer in question had been arrested and that the allegations against him had been changed from involuntary homicide to intentional homicide.
The Nanterre prosecutor announced that investigators will also look into the allegations that the 17-year-old victim, Nahel M., refused to cooperate with the authorities.
According to Prache, “the goal of these two investigations is to objectively examine all the circumstances that contributed to the death of this young driver.”
The murder of the young French-Algerian man on Tuesday provoked two nights of bloody riots in Paris and other major cities, including Toulouse, Lille, Lyon, and Nice. During the commotion, which saw rioters attack police with pyrotechnics and stones, throw rocks at them, set cars on fire, and do other harm, more than 150 people were detained.
The French Interior Ministry has announced that 40,000 officers will be deployed to maintain order, thus further turmoil is anticipated on Thursday night.
Based on CCTV footage, a home video, and police statements, Prache provided a timeline of what happened before the deadly shooting.
He claimed that a yellow Mercedes carrying Nahel M. and two passengers had drawn the attention of two motorcycle policemen because it had been speeding in a bus lane.
Police ordered the driver to stop, but he refused, so they chased after the car. The prosecutor claimed that video shows the Mercedes’ driver breaking the law repeatedly while he was being chased.
According to Prache, the cops claimed they drew their firearms and pointed them at the vehicle after he eventually stopped at a red light in order to deter him from attempting to flee. Nahel M. nevertheless made an attempt to flee in her car, at which point one of the officers started shooting.
French riots are sparked by a fatal police shot.
According to Prache, the gunshot struck Nahel M. in the arm and chest, causing the youngster to lose control of the vehicle and crash.
While the other passenger was momentarily detained, one of the passengers escaped the scene. Despite their prompt arrival at the site, the paramedics were unable to resuscitate Nahel M., according to the prosecution.
