Protest in France: Unrest spreads, announcement of 40,000 police reinforcements.

 Protest in France: Unrest spreads, announcement of 40,000 police reinforcements.

Protest in France

The Minister of Interior, Gerald Darmanin, has announced that 40,000 police officers will be mobilized nationwide to combat lawlessness. The number of officers mobilized on Wednesday is four times higher than the number of police personnel mobilized. On the same day, 5,000 police officers were mobilized for riot control in the Paris area.

Last Tuesday, a young police officer named Nahel was killed in a shootout at a square in Paris. Following the incident, there have been protests and violent clashes in France, triggered by the death of this young officer, who was of North African Arab descent. Today, on Thursday, the situation remains tense in Paris. President Emmanuel Macron and his administration are working to resolve the crisis.

Prior to this, on Wednesday, the Minister of Interior of the country informed that protesters have targeted town halls, schools, and police stations in various cities. He referred to them as "violent extremism." There have also been incidents of clashes between protesters and the police in different places.

In memory of Nahel, after a peaceful road march initiative, protesters set fire to several vehicles in the western outskirts of Paris on Thursday.

In a televised video, it has been seen that protesters have set up barricades on various streets. They are throwing petrol bombs, stones, and other projectiles at the police. The police are also responding by deploying tear gas to disperse them. The situation has turned explosive. Meanwhile, there has been a bank robbery incident.

Various buildings and buses have spray-painted with the words, "Seeking justice for Nahel."

Last Tuesday, in Paris' Tallaschic Square, a 17-year-old named Nahel was killed by police gunfire. The police claim that they shot him when he did not obey their instructions and tried to flee. However, a video circulating on social media shows two police officers trying to stop the car. One of them points a weapon towards the driver through the window. When the driver starts moving, the police officer shoots him from close range. The car eventually crashes a few meters away. AFP has verified the authenticity of the video.

According to Reuters, since 2017, the majority of those killed by police gunfire in France's Tallaschic Square were of North African or Arab descent. Last year, the second death in police gunfire occurred in the same square. This has ignited anger among the large Arab and North African communities living in France.

Following the incident of police gunfire on Thursday, Makhon held a crisis meeting with senior ministers. Despite calls for urgent national emergency from some opposition political parties, Prime Minister Elizabeth Barnie has rejected it.

Interior Minister Gerald Darmannin said that 40,000 police officers would be deployed nationwide to combat lawlessness. The number is four times higher than the police officers already deployed on Wednesday. On this day, 5,000 police officers were deployed to maintain order in the Paris region.

Darmannin stated, "The state's response will be extremely tough."

Regarding the police officer who shot Nahel, a local prosecutor stated that an official investigation has been initiated against him on charges of voluntary manslaughter. According to France's judicial process, initiating an official investigation against someone means forming allegations against them.