Nahel Merzouk riots
June–July 2023 riots in France / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A series of riots in France began on 27 June 2023 following the fatal shooting of Nahel Merzouk in an encounter with two police officers in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. Residents started a protest outside the police headquarters on the 27 June, which later escalated into rioting as demonstrators set cars alight, destroyed bus stops, and shot fireworks at police.[7] In Viry-Châtillon, a town just south of Paris with a history of violence towards police,[8] a group of teenagers set a bus ablaze.[9]
Nahel Merzouk riots | |
---|---|
Date | 27 June – 15 July 2023 (19 days) |
Location | France and other French-speaking territories |
Caused by | Killing of Nahel Merzouk |
Methods | Riots, civil disobedience, civil resistance, protests, arson, shooting, looting[1] |
Casualties, arrests, and damages | |
Death(s) | 2 confirmed[2] |
Injuries | 808 officers;[3] civil not determined |
Arrested | 3,300+[4] |
Damage | €650 million[5] |
Property damage | 1,000+ buildings damaged 5,662 vehicles burned[6] |
In Mantes-la-Jolie, a town 40 km northwest of Paris,[10] the town hall was set ablaze after being firebombed[11] on the night of 27 June, burning until 03:15 (CEST).[9] Clashes continued throughout the night across France, including Toulouse and Lille.[9] Unrest was also reported in Asnières, Colombes, Suresnes, Aubervilliers, Clichy-sous-Bois and Mantes-la-Jolie.[12]
By 29 June, over 150 people had been arrested,[13] 24 officers had been injured, and 40 cars had been torched.[14][15] Fearing greater unrest, Gérald Darmanin, Interior Minister of France, deployed 1,200 riot police and gendarmes in and around Paris, later adding an additional 2,000.[9][14][15] On 29 June, Darmanin announced that the government would deploy 40,000 officers nationwide,[16] including RAID and GIGN counter-terrorist units,[17] to quell the violence. After 4 July, the intensity of the unrest dropped drastically,[18] and were reportedly over by 15 July.[19][20]