France deploys thousands of police officers amid fresh clashes after teenager's death

More than 40,000 police officers have been deployed to cities across France as fresh riots erupted following the shooting of a teenager while driving by a police officer.

Smoke billowing from cars and trash was set on fire in the Paris suburb of Nanterre following a peaceful afternoon march in honor of the teenager identified only by his first name, Nahel .

Bus and tram services in the Paris region were closed before sunset as a precaution to protect transport workers and passengers.

In Marseille, several hundred young people were seen wandering around the city center on Thursday evening and setting garbage containers on fire. A police officer was taken to hospital after being injured by projectiles thrown by demonstrators, according to Le Monde.

The newspaper said fires were also set by protesters in Toulouse, in the southwest of the country, but no arrests were made.

The unrest even spread to Brussels, where a dozen people were arrested during scuffles linked to the shooting. Police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere said several fires had been brought under control and at least one car had been set on fire.

Florian M., a 38-year-old police officer, was remanded in custody for murder after shooting a 17-year-old boy on Tuesday.

The killing sparked riots across France, with the suspect claiming he shot the teenager because he “seemed dangerous”.

Police were preparing for a third night of unrest on Thursday, with more than 5,000 police officers mobilized in the streets of Paris.

The town of Clamart, home to 54,000 residents in the southwest suburbs of the French capital, announced it would implement a nighttime curfew from Thursday to Monday, citing “the risk of further disturbances to order.” audience “.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said police had made more than 180 arrests before Thursday and there would “no doubt” be more.

Nahel M., a 17-year-old French Algerian, was named as the victim of the shooting that occurred during a traffic stop in Nanterre, a Paris suburb.

Florian has since told prosecutors he saw a yellow Mercedes-AMG sports car with a Polish license plate “driven at high speed in a bus lane” by Nahel, who was with two passengers.

“In view of his behavior and the apparent young age of the occupants, I decided to follow him, in order to carry out a check,” said Florian, a police motorcyclist.

“During the journey, the driver was responsible for several traffic violations,” Florian said.

When Florian and a colleague get off their bike to confront Nahel, after he stops, they take out their service pistols.

“We pointed them at the driver to dissuade him from restarting,” explained Florian, admitting to having fired once, “while the car was moving forward.”

When asked why he opened fire, Florian replied “because the driver seemed dangerous.”

Florian said he and his colleague – another motorcycle police officer – “were afraid of being hit by the vehicle”.

Florian's will was read by Pascal Prache, Nanterre prosecutor, during a press conference Thursday morning.

He confirmed that the evidence includes video of the shooting, in which Florian is heard saying, “I'm going to put a bullet in your head” before opening fire.

Mr Prache said “the legal conditions for the use of the weapon were not justified” and that Florian should remain in custody as he faced a murder charge.

The prosecutor said Nahel, who was “known to the police” for previous traffic violations, “died as a result of the police officer's shooting.”

Searches of the car — which crashed after Nahel was shot — turned up no drugs, alcohol or weapons, Mr. Prache said.

Police arrested 150 people across France during a second night of rioting and arson after the fatal shooting.

Town halls and schools were among the buildings burned between Wednesday and Thursday.

Gérald Darmanin, French Interior Minister, called it “a night of unbearable violence against the symbols of the republic.”

In a tweet published Thursday, he added: “Town halls, schools and police stations have been burned or attacked. 150 arrests.

“Support for the police, gendarmes and firefighters who face it with courage. Shame on those who did not call for calm.