France shooting: Peak of rioting has passed, says Macron

After a week-long period of violence, French President Emmanuel Macron believes that the peak in rioting has passed.

He made these comments at a Tuesday meeting with more than 200 mayors of areas affected by unrest.

The protests began after the death of Nahel M, a teenager shot at a traffic light near Paris on 26 June.

The president, however, said that he remained “cautious”.

Ad

“Is there a return to calm? “I will be cautious, but the peak that we experienced in recent weeks has passed”, said he in a televised speech.

Mr Macron stated that he invited the mayors in order to thank them for their actions of recent days.

He added: “If you’re here, it means you were victimized, and sometimes in a direct and personal manner, as well as by your family and loved ones in an intolerable, unspeakable, and inhumane way.”

The interior ministry has said that the level of violence in the last 24 hours had been halved.

A firefighter was killed on Sunday evening while attempting to extinguish burning cars.

Over 3,400 people have been arrested and it is estimated that the riots alone caused millions of Euros worth of damage in Paris.

Mayors in France demonstrated on Monday to call for an end to violence. Attackers had attempted to burn down the suburban Paris home of Vincent Jeanbrun and fired rockets towards the fleeing family.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation into attempted murder.

On Tuesday, Mr Macron assured the mayors that they have his “full” support and would give them answers to the recent events.

The death of Nahel by a policeman has rekindled anger among the public who accuses the security forces for system racism. The 17-year old was of Algerian descent.

The incident has also ignited a larger conversation about police power and the relationship between authorities and those from France’s suburban areas, who feel isolated from the prosperous cities of France.

The officer who killed Nahel M was charged with voluntary murder. He claimed he fired his gun because he thought that his life was at risk.