On June 27, in Nanterre, a city in the Hauts-de-Seine department of France, a 17-year-old driver was killed when a police officer fired his weapon during a traffic stop. The officer in question has been taken into custody on suspicion of murder, and an investigation is underway.
On the evening of June 30, violent assaults, robberies, and arson attacks continued in many French cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Nanterre. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, more than 1,300 people were arrested across the country from the evening of June 30 to the morning of July 1. All large-scale events in the country have been canceled by the Prime Minister's office.
In Belgium, local media reported that over a hundred people were arrested in Brussels between June 29 and June 30.
A correspondent from the China Central Television Station learned from the Chinese Consulate General in Marseille that on the evening of June 29, a bus carrying Chinese tourists in Marseille was attacked and surrounded by rioters. Several tourists suffered minor injuries. The passengers contacted the Chinese Consulate General in Marseille for help, and the consulate immediately reported the incident to the police and coordinated with them.
That same night, all the Chinese passengers arrived safely at the hotel and left France for Switzerland on June 30.
# French President Delays Visit to Germany, Average Age of Arrested Rioters is 17
On July 1, according to a statement from the élysée Palace, French President Macron decided to postpone his state visit to Germany, which was originally scheduled for July 2 to July 4. The German President's office released a statement saying that Macron had called German President Steinmeier to discuss the situation in France and asked to delay his state visit to Germany. This visit was set to be the first state visit to Germany by a French president in 23 years.
On July 1, French Minister of the Interior Darmanin told the media that the Ministry had increased police forces nationwide and had sent special police forces, armored vehicles, and helicopters to Marseille and Lyon, two cities severely affected by the riots. He mentioned that from the evening of June 30 to the morning of July 1, police had arrested over 1,300 people nationwide, including 406 in Paris. The average age of those arrested was only 17. French Justice Minister Dupond-Moretti expressed concern about the trend of young people participating in the riots in an interview.
French Minister of Economy, Finance, and Industry Le Maire stated on July 1 that hundreds of businesses, including supermarkets, tobacco shops, savings banks, and fast food restaurants, had been affected by the riots. He urged insurance companies to quickly process claims for damaged businesses.
According to media outlets including CNN, footage from the scene of the riots shows that some participants were armed. In a Twitter discussion, Elon Musk commented on this, stating that these firearms were mostly obtained through theft or smuggling.
In response to a tweet that suggested France was in a state of collapse and that authorities could not control widespread immigration issues and the actions of leftist rioters, Musk asked, "Where did they get all these guns?" He then commented, "While personal gun ownership is very limited in Europe, it is not zero. Therefore, these guns were mostly likely obtained through theft or smuggling."
# Unrest Spreads Beyond France: Over 100 Arrested in Belgium, Geneva Suspends Public Transit with France
According to a report by China Central Television (CCTV), citing Belgium's Evening Post, local police in Brussels arrested over 100 young individuals involved in riots on June 30, many of whom were allegedly "armed."
Earlier this week, the fatal police shooting of a teenager in France sparked significant backlash and ensuing riots, which have now spread to Belgium. Multiple Belgian media outlets report that youth have gathered in cities such as Brussels and Liège, with some reports referring to the gatherings as "melees." On the evening of June 30, Belgian police reportedly stepped up their presence in Brussels to prevent an escalation of the rioting.
According to a report by Reference News, citing earlier reporting by Agence France-Presse, the Geneva Public Transport Company announced a suspension of public transportation between Geneva and France starting at 19:30 local time on Friday. As a result of the unrest, Paris decided to halt buses, trams, and other transit between the two regions.
In a statement, the Geneva Public Transport Company indicated: "In response to the French authorities' order to completely halt public transit in the region from 9 PM due to the incidents in France in the last few nights, trans-border public transit routes at the Franco-Swiss border will be gradually halted from 19:30."
The report notes that Geneva shares its borders with France on three sides. Thousands of commuters living in France and working in Geneva rely on buses and trams.
#How did the shooting incident ignite French society?
France 24 reported that on June 27, French police fatally shot a 17-year-old North African boy named Nael. The police claimed Nael refused to stop his vehicle and threatened to ram them, but the incident's video footage contradicts the police narrative, casting doubt on the police officer's motivation to shoot. This event reignited debates about police enforcement strategies in the country.
Indeed, this is not the only fatal police shooting in recent years in France. According to police data, in 2022, 13 French citizens were killed by police gunfire for failing to obey rules during traffic jams. This year, including Nael, three people have already lost their lives in this manner.
Key descriptors like North African immigrant, living in impoverished areas, and underage might provide some insight. Analysts suggest this might be a case of police violence against immigrants in impoverished areas, with ensuing riots primarily occurring in minority-dominated impoverished communities.
The Associated Press noted that although the deep-seated issues within French society still persist nearly 20 years later, the prevalence of short videos in 2005 was not as high as it is today. Today's social media undoubtedly facilitates wider and more convenient spread of such incidents.
Previously, French President Macron mentioned that one-third of those arrested on June 29 were young individuals, many of whom were minors. He further stated that some individuals on social media were organizing gatherings and mimicking violent behaviors from the online world in real life. These participating young rioters are mostly influenced by such behaviors. He called on the parents of these children to take up their supervisory responsibilities and not to allow minors to participate in violent actions.
