Protests and unrest erupted in the Paris region overnight as a result of police shooting dead a 17-year-old who refused to comply with traffic police orders to stop.
Social media videos circulating show a police officer at paris aiming a gun at the driver of a car, followed by the sound of a gunshot. Subsequently, the car crashes to a halt. Despite assistance from emergency services, the teenager, identified as Nahel, succumbed to gunshot wounds in the chest.
Authorities have detained and charged the officer responsible for the shooting with homicide.
The incident triggered a series of protests on Tuesday night in Nanterre, the area located just west of Paris where the teenager lost his life. Following the disturbances, 31 individuals were arrested.
Nahel’s death marks the second police shooting fatality during a traffic stop in France this year. Last year, a record number of 13 fatalities occurred in similar circumstances. Initially, police reportedly claimed that the teenager had driven his car toward them with the intent to harm.
However, online footage verified by the news agencies presents a different account. The video shows two officers near the vehicle, with one officer pointing his weapon through the window and apparently firing at close range as the driver attempts to flee.