France witnesses 5th night of rioting over teen's killing by police

Young rioters clashed with police into early Sunday and targeted a mayors home with a burning car as France saw a fifth night of unrest sparked by the police killing of a teenager but overall violence appeared to lessen compared with previous nightsPolice made 719 arrests nationwide by early Sunday after a mass security deployment aimed at quelling Frances worst social upheaval in yearsThe crisis posed a new challenge to President Emmanuel Macrons leadership and exposed deepseated discontent in lowincome neighborhoods over discrimination and lack of opportunityThe 17yearold whose death Tuesday spawned the anger was laid to rest Saturday in a Muslim ceremony in Nanterre a Paris suburb where emotions over his loss remain raw He has been identified publicly only by his first name NahelAs night fell Saturday over the French capital a small crowd gathered on the ChampsElysees to protest his death and police violence but met hundreds of officers with batons and shields guarding the avenue and its boutiquesIn a less chic neighbourhood of northern Paris protesters set off firecrackers and lit barricades on fire as police shot back with tear gas and stun grenadesA burning car hit the home of the mayor of the Paris suburb of lHaylesRoses overnightSeveral schools police stations town halls and stores have been targeted by fires or vandalism in recent days but such a personal attack on a mayors home is unusualMayor Vincent Jeanbrun said his wife and one of his children were injured in the attack at 130 am while the family was sleeping and he was in the town hall monitoring the violenceJeanbrun of the conservative opposition Republicans party said in a statement the attack represented a new stage of horror and ignominy in the unrest and urged the government to impose a state of emergency French news reports said a prosecutor opened an investigation into attempted murderSkirmishes erupted in the Mediterranean city of Marseille but appeared less intense than the night before according to the Interior Ministry A bolstered police contingent arrested 55 people thereNationwide arrests were lower than the night before Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin attributed that to the resolute action of security forcesMore than 3000 people have been detained overall since Nahels death The mass police deployment has been welcomed by some frightened residents of targeted neighborhoods and shop owners whose stores have been ransacked but it has further frustrated those who see police behavior as the core of Frances current crisisThe unrest took a toll on Macrons diplomatic standing On Saturday he postponed what would have been the first state visit to Germany by a French president in 23 years Macron had been scheduled to fly to Germany on SundayHundreds of French police and firefighters have been injured in the violence although authorities havent said how many protesters have been hurtIn French Guiana an overseas territory a 54yearold died after being hit by a stray bulletOn Saturday Frances justice minister Eric DupondMoretti warned that young people who share calls for violence on Snapchat or other apps could face prosecution Macron has blamed social media for fuelling violenceThe violence comes just over a year before Paris and other French cities are due to host the summer Olympics whose organisers were closely monitoring the situation as preparations for the Games continueHundreds of mourners stood along the road Saturday leading to a hilltop cemetery in Nanterre to pay tribute to Nahel as his white casket was carried from a mosque to the burial siteHis mother dressed in white walked inside the cemetery amid applause Many of the men were young and Arab or Black coming to mourn a boy who could have been themThis week Nahels mother told France 5 television that she was angry at the officer who shot her son at a traffic stop but not at the police in generalHe saw a little Arablooking kid He wanted to take his life she said Nahels family has roots in AlgeriaVideo of the killing showed two officers at the window of the car one with his gun pointed at the driverAs the teenager pulled forward the officer fired once through the windshieldThe officer accused of killing Nahel was given a preliminary charge of voluntary homicideThirteen people who didnt comply with traffic stops were fatally shot by French police last year and three this year prompting demands for more accountabilityFrance also saw protests against police violence and racial injustice after George Floyds killing by police in MinnesotaThe reaction to the killing was a potent reminder of the persistent poverty discrimination and limited job prospects in neighbourhoods around France where many trace their roots to former French colonies such as where Nahel grew upIn 2005 France was shaken by weeks of riots prompted by the death of two teenagers who were electrocuted in a power substation in the Paris suburb of ClichysousBois while fleeing police Clichy has seen new violence this weekNahels story is the lighter that ignited the gas Hopeless young people were waiting for it We lack housing and jobs and when we have jobs our wages are too low said Samba Seck a 39yearold transportation worker in ClichyThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever