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Police Officer Faces Charges in Connection with Death of Teen During Traffic Stop in France

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The French police officer has been taken into custody and charged with homicide following the fatal shooting of a teenager near Paris on Tuesday. The 17-year-old, identified as Nahel M, was shot at close range as he attempted to drive away and subsequently crashed.

The incident has triggered widespread anger, leading to violent protests throughout the country. A march led by the boy’s mother was marred by clashes, and there have been further episodes of unrest and arrests in cities such as Lille and Marseille. In response, heightened security measures, including night-time curfews in some areas, have been implemented.

Over 40,000 police officers have been deployed across France to address the escalating situation. The incident has sparked a broader discussion about police power and the relationship between authorities and marginalized communities in the country’s suburbs.

The lawyer representing Nahel’s family criticized the existing legal and judicial framework, which they argue fosters a culture of impunity for law enforcement. Meanwhile, the accused officer maintains that he acted in self-defense and within the boundaries of the law.

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France shooting: Who was Nahel M, shot by police in Nanterre?

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The fatal shooting of Nahel M, a 17-year-old, has sparked widespread riots in various cities across France, including his hometown of Nanterre, located west of Paris.

Nahel, who was raised by his mother as an only child, worked as a pizza delivery man and was involved in playing rugby league. He had a tumultuous educational background and was enrolled in a college in Suresnes, near his residence, with the intention of becoming an electrician.

Residents of Nanterre spoke highly of Nahel, describing him as well-loved in the community where he lived with his mother, Mounia. He had a close relationship with his mother and expressed his love for her before she went to work on the day of the incident.

Tragically, in the morning, during a police traffic check, Nahel was fatally shot at close range in the chest while driving a Mercedes car, after attempting to drive away from the scene.

Nahel’s mother expressed deep sorrow and devastation, stating that she had dedicated everything to him and he was her only child and best friend. His grandmother remembered him as a kind and good-hearted boy.

The incident has drawn attention to the police shooting, leading to protests and calls for justice across France. Politicians and activists emphasized that a refusal to stop should not result in lethal force, emphasizing the right of all citizens to fair treatment.

Nahel had been involved with the Pirates of Nanterre rugby club for the past three years and participated in an integration program called Ovale Citoyen, which aimed to assist struggling teenagers by providing apprenticeships. He was learning to become an electrician through this program.

Jeff Puech, the president of Ovale Citoyen, described Nahel as a determined individual seeking social and professional integration, contrary to negative portrayals of him on social media. Puech praised Nahel’s exemplary attitude and knew him well during his time in the Vieux-Pont suburb before moving to the Pablo Picasso estate.

Notably, Nahel’s family had Algerian origins, and expressions of support and condolences were seen on a banner displayed on the Paris ring road. Some individuals in France, particularly those from Arab or black backgrounds, highlighted the issue of police violence and demanded justice for Nahel.

Nahel had been subjected to multiple police checks, known as refus d’obtempérer (refusals to cooperate), with records indicating up to five such instances since 2021. It was reported that he had recently been detained for refusing to cooperate and was scheduled to appear in juvenile court in September. His recent troubles mostly involved incidents related to cars.

The riots triggered by Nahel’s death serve as a reminder of the 2005 events, when two teenagers, Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré, were electrocuted while evading police after a football game and sought refuge in an electricity substation in the Parisian suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois.

The emotional impact of Nahel’s death resonates with many in France, as they can relate to the incident and perceive the potential for it to have happened to themselves or their loved ones.

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Outrage in Paris following police shooting of teenager who defied traffic stop

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Violent protests erupted in Paris overnight following the fatal shooting of a 17-year-old who failed to comply with a traffic stop order by police. Video footage circulating on social media shows a police officer aiming a gun at the driver of a car, followed by a gunshot and the car subsequently crashing. The teenager, identified as Naël M, succumbed to chest wounds despite receiving assistance from emergency services. The officer responsible for the shooting has been apprehended on charges of homicide.

Initially, the police claimed that the teen had driven his car toward them with the intent to harm. However, verified footage contradicts this account, revealing two officers attempting to stop the vehicle. One officer points his weapon at the driver through the window and seemingly fires at close range as the driver tries to flee. In the video, an unidentified person can be heard saying, “you’re going to be shot in the head,” but the speaker’s identity remains unclear.

Two other individuals were in the car at the time of the incident. One of them fled, while the other, also a minor, was detained by the police. The shooting triggered protests in the Nanterre area, located west of Paris, with incidents of arson, destruction of bus shelters, and the use of fireworks near the police station. Riot police employed tear gas to disperse the protesters, leading to the arrest of twenty individuals.

Following the teenager’s death, two separate investigations have been initiated—one into the potential misconduct of a public official resulting in a fatality, and another into the driver’s failure to stop the vehicle and alleged attempt to harm a police officer.

Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez expressed concerns about the officer’s actions, although he suggested the officer may have felt threatened. The family’s lawyer contested this justification, stating that the video unequivocally depicted a police officer deliberately killing the young man. The family filed a complaint against the police for providing false information initially, claiming that the car had attempted to run over the officers.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin described the video shared on social media as “extremely shocking” and called on people to respect the family’s grief and the presumption of innocence for the police. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon extended his condolences to the teen’s family, emphasizing that no officer has the right to kill unless in self-defense. He called for a comprehensive reform of the uncontrolled police force, which he believes undermines the authority of the state.

This incident follows another fatal police shooting two weeks earlier in Angouleme, where a 19-year-old driver was killed after allegedly hitting an officer during a traffic stop. Last year, a record number of 13 individuals died in police shootings during traffic stops in France, according to Reuters. Naël M’s death marks the second such incident this year.

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Olympic boxing’s IBA is out, but matches are still scheduled for the Paris Games

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International Boxing Association’s participation in Olympic competitions is no longer recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

The International Boxing Association (IBA) has been expelled from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for failing to finish changes including governance, finances, and ethical issues.

On Thursday, 69 members of the IOC voted in support of banishing the IBA, with only one member voting against it. Ten members didn’t participate in the voting.

The executive board, which is led by IOC President Thomas Bach, advocated the IOC’s decision two weeks ago, thus it seemed inevitable that it would be adopted.

However, boxing will continue to be an Olympic event at the 2024 Paris Games.

“We place a great priority on the boxing sport. Because of their administration, we have a very significant issue with IBA,” Bach informed the IOC members during their online meeting.

The IOC had issues with the IBA’s management, which included Russian and Uzbek presidents, as well as its financial support from the Russian government’s energy company, Gazprom, as well as the fairness of the competition and the judging.

“The boxers fully deserve to be governed by an international federation with integrity and transparency,” the IOC president declared.

National boxing federations chose Gafur Rakhimov as their head in 2018, defying IOC warnings. The Uzbek businessman was reportedly connected to heroin trafficking and organized crime. The choice of Umar Kremlev to succeed Rakhimov in 2020 came after yet another series of election-related IOC cautions that went unheeded.

Under Kremlev, the IBA’s debts of close to $20 million were paid off, and the IOC took issue with the boxing federation’s reliance on Gazprom, a Russian energy company.

The IBA was no longer backed by Gazprom, Kremlev said last month during the men’s world championships, and his language towards Olympic authorities became increasingly combative.

As it did for the Tokyo Games in 2021, the IOC is already in charge of organizing boxing competitions at the Paris Olympics without consulting the IBA.

It was unclear if boxers competing for national federations who continue to be IBA members would be considered eligible for the Paris competition.

Boxing’s inclusion in the Olympic program for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, which the IOC and Bach withheld as leverage against the IBA, may now be confirmed as a result of the action. Members were assured on Thursday that boxing is “guaranteed” to take place in Los Angeles.

The IOC may now cooperate with World Boxing, a rival organization founded this year with backing from authorities in the United States, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as the connection with the IBA has now come to an end.

The IBA may appeal the judgment to the Court of Arbitration for Sport after labelling it a “tremendous error” on Thursday.

The Lausanne-based IBA said in a statement that the expulsion was “catastrophic for global boxing” and “blatantly contradicts the IOC’s claims of acting in the best interests of boxing and athletes.”

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Paris 2024 Olympics: French police raid organisers’ headquarters

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The headquarters of the organizers of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are being searched by the French police as part of two preliminary corruption investigations.

The authorities are investigating allegations of favoritism and the misuse of public funds in the awarding of construction contracts. The Paris 2024 organizing committee is fully cooperating with the investigators. Anti-corruption investigators arrived unexpectedly at the committee’s headquarters in Saint-Denis, as well as at the offices of Solideo, the public body responsible for the games’ construction projects.

The searches are being conducted at multiple locations involving both organizations. These developments are the latest in a series of incidents affecting France’s Olympic movement and sports in recent months, including the resignation of the National Olympic Committee President, Brigitte Henriques, and the stepping down of the heads of the country’s football and rugby federations due to notable scandals.

The Paris 2024 Olympics are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics in September.

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Lionel Messi suspended by Paris St-Germain for two weeks over Saudi Arabia trip

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Lionel Messi, the captain of Paris St-Germain, has been suspended for two weeks by the club for travelling to Saudi Arabia without their permission. This came after the team’s recent loss to Lorient, in which Messi played the entire game. Messi had requested permission to travel for commercial purposes, but the club denied the request. Messi claims that he had initially been granted permission to travel, but that it was later rescinded due to a change in the club’s training schedule. During the two-week suspension, Messi will not be allowed to participate in any training or games with PSG.

In addition to being suspended by PSG for two weeks, Lionel Messi has also been fined by the club. Messi has been serving as a tourism ambassador for Saudi Arabia, which is believed to be the reason for his unauthorized trip to the country. His contract with PSG is set to expire this summer.

Reports from March suggest that Barcelona has been in contact with Messi about the possibility of returning to the Nou Camp. Messi has played 71 games for PSG, scoring 31 goals and contributing 34 assists. He helped the team win the Ligue 1 title last season. Due to his suspension, Messi will miss PSG’s upcoming matches against Troyes and Ajaccio. PSG is currently leading the league by five points with five games left to play, and is aiming to win their ninth league title in 11 seasons.

Lionel Messi has made a decision that indicates the end of his time with Paris St-Germain. While the team has three games left to play after his suspension, PSG’s future plans do not involve Messi, who less than five months ago won the World Cup.

PSG sees their actions as standard employee punishment for someone who left for work during work hours and outside of the approved location. However, this move is also a statement about the team’s future direction, which they plan to center around younger players, as well as their strict approach to discipline. PSG fans no longer want Messi, and it is highly unlikely that his contract will be renewed.

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Paris synagogue bomber convicted after 43 years

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A court in Paris has convicted a Lebanese-Canadian university professor, Hassan Diab, of planting a motorcycle bomb that killed four people and wounded 38 others at a Paris synagogue in October 1980. Diab, who called his situation “Kafkaesque”, received a life sentence, but refused to attend the trial.

Prosecutors claimed that he was undoubtedly responsible for the bombing, which was the first attack on Jews in France since World War Two and became a model for many similar attacks carried out by militants in the Middle East. Supporters of Diab have criticized the trial as being “manifestly unfair”.

The investigation into the 1980 Paris synagogue bombing has been marked by confusion and persistence by a small group of magistrates. Hassan Diab, a Lebanese-Canadian university professor, was named as a suspect almost 20 years after the attack and was finally extradited from Canada in 2014.

In 2018, the case was closed due to lack of evidence, but an appeal to reopen the case was successful in 2021, leading to Diab’s recent trial and conviction in absentia. Diab has consistently maintained his innocence, and his conviction may lead to a second extradition request, although its success is uncertain. Diab expressed disappointment that “reason did not prevail”.

Responding to the verdict, the Hassan Diab Support Committee in Canada called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to make it “absolutely clear” that no second extradition would be accepted.

They said 15 years of legal “nightmare… is now fully exposed in its overwhelming cruelty and injustice”.

At a news conference, Mr Trudeau said his government “will look carefully at next steps, at what the French government chooses to do, at what French tribunals choose to do”.

“But we will always be there to stand up for Canadians and their rights,” he added.

Over three weeks the court heard an account of the known facts of the case, plus arguments identifying Diab as the bomber and counter-evidence suggesting he was a victim of mistaken identity.

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Violent clashes in Paris as pension age row rages

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Large numbers of people are taking to the streets in France, on a ninth day of nationwide demonstrations and strikes over pensions reform. The CGT union estimates there are up to 800,000 people protesting on the streets of Paris where clashes with police are being reported

Police have used tear gas in Nantes and water cannon in Rennes at protests over legislation to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64.

Strikes are disrupting schools and public transport, and some demonstrators are also blockading railway tracks and stations.

Ongoing industrial action at oil refineries is affecting petrol supplies, and also of aircraft fuel.

President Emmanuel Macron’s government forced the legislation through without a vote in the lower house of parliament last week.

Yesterday he defended the changes as “a necessity” in his first public comments on the escalating row.

The vast majority of protests have passed off without violence but some demonstrators dressed in black and known locally as “Black Bloc” radicals have been out on the streets, throwing stones and bottles at police and setting fire to bins.

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French bin strike: Paris holds its nose as waste piles up

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A week into a waste collectors’ strike, bins are overflowing in several parts of Paris, and hundreds of tonnes of trash are being left on the streets of the French city. One Parisian complained on French radio that it was filthy and attracted rats and bugs.

The Macron administration’s plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 is the reason why the workers are on strike. Le Havre, Nantes, and Rennes are among the other cities that are impacted.

Trash collectors joined the pension strikes a week ago, and according to the Paris authorities, the action has affected half of the city’s municipal worker-served regions. A fourth station that treats garbage has been partially shuttered, while three have been blockaded.

The Paris government reported on Monday that 5,600 tonnes of rubbish still needed to be collected.

One pundit on Europe1 radio compared the scenario to a free-for-all smorgasbord for Paris’ six million rats—more than twice as many as there are people living there.

According to Paris Council, the service was operating almost normally in the 10 districts serviced by private enterprises. According to some reports, activists were attempting to stop collecting from happening.

Additionally, one private business was observed on Monday evening by news station BFMTV picking up trash in the sixth, one of the major central districts, which is typically handled by council workers. On the western outskirts of the city, two more areas had similar bin collecting going on.

Leading council official Emmanuel Grégoire said the situation was complicated but the authority was prioritising intervention for public safety, with a focus on clearing food markets, bin bags lying on the ground and ensuring pedestrian safety.

The upper house or Senate approved the measures on Saturday, and on Wednesday, a joint committee of lawmakers from both houses will deliberate on the final language. The National Assembly and Senate might receive a final vote on Thursday.

The lower house is not controlled by President Emmanuel Macron’s party, thus passage of the law is far from certain.

In order to pass the measures, the government needs 287 votes, and even if it can persuade all 250 of its MPs to support them, it still has to find 37 additional parliamentarians from other parties to support raising the retirement age.

Republicans are anticipated to make up a large portion of those extra votes, therefore the government is determined to avoid rushing the legislation through without their support.

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Paris shooting: Protests after deadly attack on Kurds

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As a result of Friday’s horrific attack on the city’s Kurdish community, violence has erupted in central Paris. In addition to throwing objects at police, protesters tipped over automobiles and lit some on fire. Tear gas was used in response by the police.

The attack on Friday, which happened at a restaurant and a centre for Kurdish culture, claimed the lives of three individuals. According to a police source who spoke to AFP, the 69-year-old white male suspect claimed later that he was a bigot who detested foreigners.

The same news organisation was informed that the man used a “much-used” pistol to carry out his attack and was discovered with “two or three” loaded magazines and a box containing at least 25 ammunition. Shortly after the shootings, unrest erupted. Video captured individuals setting fires in the middle of the road and breaking car windows.

As demonstrators attempted to breach a security perimeter, police fired tear gas.

After hundreds of Kurds quietly gathered in the Place de la République to honour the three victims, Saturday’s new violence broke out.

The retired train driver is still being questioned by the police. He is currently facing an additional charge of acting with a racist motive in addition to being detained on suspicion of murder and an attempted murder.

He has a history of weapons offences, and it has come to light that the assault occurred just days after his recent release on bail.

He was accused with racist violence last year after a sword attack in another migrant camp in the French capital.

Witnesses of Friday’s shootings in the city’s 10th district said the attacker – tall, white and elderly – shot dead two men and a woman.

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