Escalation of violence: Bus-tram shutdown across France
The government announced the closure of public transport, including buses and trams, on Friday night in France as the violence continued to escalate. Also, the sale of goods used in conflict has been banned.
According to the international press, the government has ordered the concerned administrative department to stop all types of public transport from 9 pm to morning local time. In a separate statement, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin also banned the sale of conflict-use fireworks, petrol bottles, flammables and chemicals.
The French capital Paris and its surrounding cities are now on fire after protests over the shooting death of a teenager by police at a checkpoint. In the conflict that started last Tuesday (June 27) night, about five hundred buildings have been vandalized so far. Robbery has taken place in many stores including the Apple Store. Two thousand cars were burnt. On Thursday night alone, 875 people were arrested from various places of violence.
French President Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting on Friday. He said in the meeting that the protestors vandalized 492 buildings in the conflict that lasted for four days and three nights. More than two thousand cars were burnt. About 4,000 places have been set on fire.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Home Affairs said that more than 250 police officers were injured while trying to stop the violence at various places on Thursday night. 875 perpetrators of violence have been arrested. Half of them were arrested in the Paris region. Many of whom are teenagers.
President Macron in a statement urged parents to keep teenagers away from violence. He also called on the social media to play a responsible role in stopping the conflict.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne called the ongoing violence "unbearable and inexcusable" and said the government was reviewing all options to restore law and order. She also said that the police will use "armored vehicles" if necessary to stop the conflict.
France's streets have been in turmoil since the video footage of the police shooting death of 17-year-old Nahel M in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris, on the morning of June 27. Allegedly, a police officer shot him at point blank range (absolutely in front) in the car for violating traffic laws.
In the viral video, two policemen can be seen leaning on the window of the car and pointing their guns at the driver. One can be heard saying, 'Bullets will come out of your head...'. At that time, as soon as the car started moving, shots were fired at the driver from point blank range. The car hit a pole a few meters ahead. Nahel died on the spot.
Street protests led by the teenager's mother, Monia Nanterre, began on Thursday afternoon in a suburb of Paris following the violence that erupted in protests on Tuesday and Wednesday night. When the police tried to deter them, the violence escalated. Thousands of people participated in the protest in solidarity with the mother of the slain teenager.
The head of the region Valerie Pécris announced the suspension of bus and train services in Paris from 9 pm local time on Thursday due to the fear of worsening of the situation. On the other hand, a curfew was imposed on Thursday in Clamarte, a city in the Yé-de-France region, as the situation is more critical than in Paris. This curfew will continue till Monday. This special administrative situation will be effective from 9 pm to 6 am every day.
Other cities such as Lille and Tours announced the suspension of bus-train services. Demonstrations have also been banned in some cities.
But even so many steps could not stop the conflict on Thursday night. Protesters turned more violent on the streets. Cars were burnt, shops and houses were vandalized. When the police tried to stop them, they were also attacked.