🔴 Live: 40,000 police officers to be deployed across France to quell protests over teen’s death

Issued on: 29/06/2023 – 10:57Modified: 29/06/2023 – 13:59

• The 17-year-old victim, identified only as Nahel M., was shot in the chest at point-blank range during a traffic stop on Tuesday morning in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. He was driving a yellow Mercedes in Nanterre when he was pulled over for breaking traffic laws.
• Police initially reported that he was shot after driving his car at police, but this was contradicted by a video uploaded to social media and later authenticated by AFP. The footage shows the two policemen standing by the stationary car, with one pointing a weapon at the driver. A voice is heard saying, “You are going to get a bullet in the head.” The police officer then appears to fire as the car abruptly drives off before gradually coming to a stop. 
• The incident has so far caused two nights of violent unrest in Paris and cities around France that have seen protesters clashing with police. Authorities said at least 150 people had been arrested overnight.
• France’s interior minister said 40,000 police officers will deployed Thursday night to quell any new outbreaks of violence.
• A silent march will take place on Thursday in honour of Nahel M.

1:38pm: 40,000 police to be deployed overnight, interior minister says

Some 40,000 police officers will be deployed overnight to quell violence that engulfed cities and towns in the wake of the fatal police shooting of Nahel M., including 5,000 in the Paris region on Thursday evening, the interior ministry has said.

“There will be a lot more police and gendarmes present tonight,” said Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin.

12:27pm: Nanterre prosecutor says officer who shot Nahel detained on charges of intentional homicide

The Nanterre prosecutor announced Thursday morning that the police officer who fatally shot Nahel M. would be detained on changes of intentional homicide. 

“Thats what people here in Nanterre were expecting and were hoping for,” said FRANCE 24’s Clovis Casali, reporting from the southwestern Paris suburb.

03:28

11:18am: Nanterre prosecutor gives timeline of events that led to fatal shooting

The Nanterre prosecutor said that witness statements, CCTV video footage, amateur video footage, and statements from police offers were being used to piece together the timeline of events from Tuesday morning.

He confirmed that two motorcycle police noticed a Mercedes with a Polish license plate, one young driver and two passengers travelling quickly in a bus lane at 7:55am.

Police twice attempted to indicate to the car to pull over and park, but the driver continued driving and the two police pursued the vehicle. Video footage shows the Mercedes committing several traffic violations during the pursuit.

The Mercedes had to stop at a stop light in La Defence, at which point the police asked the driver to turn off the engine and exit the vehicle.

The police officers said they drew their weapons and aimed them at the driver to dissuade him from taking off in the vehicle. However, the driver did pull away at which point the police decided to shoot.

A bullet hit the driver through arm and chest, and the car crashed. One of the passengers fled. Firefighters were called to the scene at 8:21am. They provided first aid to the driver which was unsuccessful.

The second passenger was taken into custody but released on Tuesday afternoon. Police are still looking for the passenger who fled.

A search of the vehicle found no drugs or dangerous products.

11:15am: Nanterre prosecutor says police use of firearms against teen driver was ‘not justified’

Nanterre Prosecutor Pascal Prache, who is leading the investigation into the fatal police shooting of Nahel M., said that initial investigations found that the officer’s use of his firearm was not justified.

Consequently, the charges against the officer were updated from involuntary to intentional homicide. Prache also recommended the officer be kept in detention.

He said the legal process had “just begun” and evidence was also being gathered to investigate a charge against Nahel M. for his refusal to cooperate with police.

“The purpose of these two investigations is to look at all the circumstances objectively that led to the death of this young driver,” the prosecutor said.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, Reuters and AP)