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French Officer Involved in Marseille Riots Admits to Firing Riot Gun while in Custody

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French policeman under investigation for a shooting incident during the Marseille riots a month ago has confessed to firing a rubber bullet at a 22-year-old man’s head. The victim, Hedi, an assistant restaurant manager, suffered severe injuries and disfigurement from the “flash ball.”

The officer has been in custody for weeks, causing controversy among his colleagues. The officer’s lawyer requested his release, but the public prosecutor cited the risk of collusion with colleagues. The incident occurred during nationwide riots that followed the death of a 17-year-old during a police check in Nanterre.

Hedi, a North African immigrant, survived the headshot but sustained serious health issues. Other incidents of rubber bullet use by the French police have also resulted in life-changing injuries and deaths, sparking further debate on their use.

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Council of Europe demands France to stop the use of rubber bullets

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In a statement, the council’s human rights commissioner Dunja Mijatovic said that the French authorities should halt the use of LBDs during operations aimed at maintaining public order.

France uses the so-called defence ball launchers, known as LBDs, which can shoot 40-millimeter rubber projectiles that are considered non-lethal. This causes dozens of injuries to anti-government protesters in recent weeks.

Dunja Mijatovic also asked the government to review its regulations soon on the use of so-called intermediate weapons for riot control, to ensure they respect law enforcement’s primary task of protecting “citizens and their human rights.”

These rubber bullets were used by the Police for the weekly ‘yellow vest’ protests in Paris and other cities since November. This have often degenerated into clashes with police and vandalism.

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