Intense Protests Continue for Fifth Day in France... Over 700 Arrested Overnight

Protest Erupts Over 'Teen Boy Shot Dead'
More Than 1,300 Arrested Previous Day

Violent protests have continued for the fifth day across France, with over 700 people arrested overnight. The protests were sparked by the death of a teenage boy of Algerian descent who was shot by police while fleeing a traffic checkpoint.

According to foreign media including AFP, the French government announced on the 2nd (local time) that 719 people were arrested overnight. On the previous day, the 1st, over 1,300 people were arrested. Foreign reports indicate that the total number of arrests due to the protests has exceeded 3,000 as of this day.

G?rald Darmanin, the Minister of the Interior, wrote on Twitter that "thanks to the firm response of law enforcement, it was a calmer night."

The French government reported that 45 police officers were injured nationwide, and 577 vehicles and 74 buildings were set on fire. In the southern city of Laill?-Rose near Paris, around 1:30 a.m., a car crashed into the mayor’s house and caught fire, injuring his wife and one child. The mayor of Laill?-Rose, a member of the conservative opposition party Les R?publicains, explained in a statement, "They set fire to the house trying to kill the family sleeping upstairs, but the car caught fire."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

About 45,000 police officers were deployed nationwide, similar to the previous day, with 7,000 concentrated in Paris and its suburbs, where many tourists gather. A movement to gather on the Champs-?lys?es in central Paris was detected through social media, prompting a large police presence to control the situation in advance.

In Paris, six buildings were damaged, five police officers were injured, and 315 people were arrested. In Marseille, a major city in southern France, police used tear gas and arrested about 50 people. A curfew was also imposed overnight in Marseille and other areas.

French President Emmanuel Macron explained that one-third of the protesters are very young and urged parents to take responsibility. He pointed out that social media is fueling the violence. According to the French government, 30% of those arrested the previous day had an average age of 17.

Britain and European countries are advising travelers to France to avoid areas affected by the protests. China issued a warning through its consulate and formally raised concerns with France after a bus carrying Chinese tourists was attacked in Marseille.

Earlier, on the 27th of last month, a teenage boy of Algerian descent known as "Nael" died after being shot by police inside a car while trying to evade a traffic checkpoint in western France. The police officer who shot Nael has been detained and is under investigation for murder. It is reported that he initially aimed at Nael’s leg but ended up shooting his chest when the car moved and collided with him.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.