Grandmother Of Killed Boy Urges End To Riots In France
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
PARIS (Worthy News) – The grandmother of the 17-year-old boy killed by police during a traffic stop in France has urged protesters to stop the riots that have spread across the nation.
The grandmother, Nadia, said her daughter “no longer has a life” after Nahel M.’s death and stressed that the violence should end.
Her appeal came as French Prime Minister Elizabeth Borne visited the Parisian suburb of L’Hay-les-Roses, where the mayor’s house was attacked. Born said, “No violence will go unpunished.”
The mayor’s wife suffered a broken tibia – a “fairly serious injury,” said authorities, who opened an investigation into attempted murder.
The Créteil prosecutor did not give an update on the condition of the couple’s two children, aged five and seven.
As the investigation continued, the Association of Mayors of France called for a rally of citizens and mayors on Monday to support the targeted Mayor Vincent Jeanbrun.
Violent protests have happened since Tuesday when Nahel M., a boy of Algerian and Moroccan descent, was shot and killed by police.
HUNDREDS DETAINED
More than 700 rioters were detained overnight, down from well over a thousand the previous night, with 45,000 security forces trying to maintain order, officials said Sunday.
President Emmanuel Macron addressed the unrest with government officials on Sunday as the violence has underscored deep-rooted frustration over alleged police abuse against migrants.
The fatal shooting of Nahal M. was the third killing this year during a police traffic stop and followed a record 13 deaths last year. Most of the victims were Black or of Arab origin, records show.
There have been calls to overturn a 2017 law allowing French police to shoot in five instances, including when the driver or occupants of a vehicle ignore an order to stop and are deemed “to pose a risk” to the officer’s life or physical safety, or other people’s.
France’s human rights ombudsman has opened an inquiry into Tuesday’s killing of Nahel M, the sixth such inquiry since the start of last year.
The officer involved in the latest shooting has been charged with homicide, authorities say.
If you are interested in articles produced by Worthy News, please check out our FREE sydication service available to churches or online Christian ministries. To find out more, visit Worthy Plugins.