France Riots: Teenager Rioters Damage 490 Structures, Burn 2000 Vehicles
The ongoing France riots are due to President Emmanuel Macron’s 2 major decisions. The first is to raise the country’s retirement age. And the second is to increase a hydrocarbon tax, which would make fuel more expensive, especially diesel.
The protesters, known as the yellow vests, and rioters have clashed with French riot police in several demonstrations.
Riots have erupted in several cities across France following the death of a 17-year-old boy in a police firing incident.
The violence has escalated over the course of four nights, with rioters engaging in arson, violence, and looting.
The French government has responded by increasing police presence, deploying over 45,000 officers to contain the riots.
French President Emmanuel Macron has accused the rioters of exploiting the situation. On the fourth day of the riots, 471 individuals were arrested, with the government emphasizing that the extent of violence was comparatively lower than in previous nights.
The government reported significant damage, including 492 damaged structures, 2,000 burned vehicles, and 3,880 fires started.
The interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, stated that Friday night was relatively calmer than the previous night, despite the arrests.
The government urged parents to keep teenagers inside their homes to prevent further violence. It was revealed that the average age of the arrested rioters was 17, with some as young as 13 years old.
President Macron called on social media platforms to take action against the spread of “copycat violence,” highlighting the role of apps like TikTok and Snapchat in facilitating the dissemination of violent acts.
The fear of riots spilling into neighboring areas led to Geneva suspending its cross-border public transportation services with France.
The unrest has not been limited to Paris, as clashes between rioters and police, as well as incidents of burning and looting, have been reported in other major cities.
The UK foreign office cautioned its citizens to exercise caution and be aware of potential travel disruptions due to the unpredictable nature of the riots. Belgium has also made over 100 arrests related to the violence in France.
The funeral of the deceased 17-year-old, Nahel M, is scheduled for Saturday in Nanterres. The local community, along with Nanterres mayor Patrick Jarry, has expressed support for the grieving mother, Mounia.
The French football team, including captain Kylian Mbappe, has called on protestors to cease the violence and seek peaceful means of expressing themselves while expressing shock over the tragic death of Nahel.
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France is experiencing major ongoing riots. The death of a teenager, widespread the violence, property damage, and arrests.
The unrest and violence has extended beyond Paris to other major cities of France, which is causing more concerns in neighboring countries too.
