Paris Erupts in Riots following Police Shooting of Teenage Driver (+Video)
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Riots broke out in the streets of Paris overnight after a French-Algerian teenager was shot dead by a police officer during a traffic stop.
The officer reportedly told the young driver, "I'm going to lodge a bullet in your head."
The victim, identified as 17-year-old Nael M., was fatally shot while behind the wheel of a Mercedes in the western suburb of Nanterre, triggering a night of chaos in the French capital.
Witnesses described the killing as "an execution," and a video capturing the incident quickly circulated on social media, fueling anger toward the police. Initially, authorities claimed that the officer opened fire after the driver rammed them with his car.
On Tuesday, angry youths took to the streets, setting bins on fire and launching fireworks at the police. As night fell, cars and buildings were set ablaze, and the violence spread to other suburbs across the city. The police officer responsible for the shooting is currently in custody, and Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin appealed for calm.
By Wednesday morning, police had made 24 arrests. Nael's family released a photo of him smiling, accompanied by the words, "The love of my life."
During a session at the National Assembly in Paris, Darmanin expressed concern over the "extremely shocking and worrying" images circulating on social media, urging people to "respect the family's grief and the presumption of innocence of the police."
The shooting occurred near the Nanterre-Prefecture RER train station, close to Nelson-Mandela Square, behind the La Défense business district.
A verified video of the incident shows an armed traffic officer pointing his service pistol at the yellow Mercedes AMG and uttering the words, "I'm going to lodge a bullet in your head." A gunshot is heard, and the car jerks forward before Nael succumbs to his injuries at the scene. The shooting took place at approximately 8:30 am.
The victim was pronounced dead shortly after 9 am. Two other individuals in the vehicle at the time have not been identified.
Prosecutors have confirmed that the officer responsible for the shooting is under investigation for "murder."
Initially, police claimed that the teenager had been driving erratically, but doubts have been raised regarding the officers' account of the events.
Local residents staged a protest outside the police headquarters, with some groups setting barricades and rubbish bins on fire, damaging a bus stop, and throwing firecrackers at the police. Videos aired by local media showed law enforcement responding with tear gas and dispersion grenades.
