PARIS has been rocked by another night of protests with rioters pelting fireworks at police as outrage over the “execution” killing of a teen continues.
The French capital has been engulfed by violence following the shooting of Nahel M, 17, during a traffic stop on Tuesday.
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Chilling clips shared online show cars, buildings and even police stations being ravaged by raging infernos.
The disorder has now descended into looting, as mobs were filmed raiding shops in the Chatelet shopping complex close to Notre Dame Cathedral.
Police said protestors smashed the windows before grabbing goods, while other businesses were vandalised and set alight.
Town halls, police cars, and trains were all torched nationwide, while gangs fought running battles with police, who responded with teargas and baton charges.
President Emmanuel Macron is facing a fiery backlash after images emerged of him partying with Elton John while his country burns.
He attended the legendary musician’s Paris leg of his farewell tour on Wednesday evening at the Accor Arena with his wife Brigitte.
Macron was snapped snuggling up to Elton and his husband David Furnish backstage as they posed for a picture post-concert.
The President – who bestowed the Rocket Man singer with France’s Legion of Honour award – has been slammed for rubbing shoulders with celebs while his nation is in uproar.
Thierry Mariani, an MEP with Marine Le Pen‘s National Rally, fumed: “While France was on fire, Macron applauded Elton John.”
In Paris – the epicentre of last night’s violence – cars were set alight as 40,000 cops flooded the streets in the most intense clashes seen yet.
Some 667 demonstrators were arrested across France amid the fury, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
Video has begun circulating social media showing a fire at the site of an Olympic swimming pool in Aubervilliers, which is reportedly under construction ahead of the event next year.
Twelve buses were put to the torch in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers alone, while an overnight curfew was imposed in the nearby town of Clamart.
There were similar scenes in cities and towns across France in the early hours of Friday morning, particularly in the southern city of Marseille.
Outrage even spread into neighbouring Belgium, with cars set on fire as chaos erupted, sparking fears the unrest could ripple across Europe.
Locals have taken to the streets after tragic Nahel, who was just 17, was gunned down at the wheel of a Mercedes on Tuesday morning.
The French-Algerian delivery driver was shot dead by a cop who threatened to “lodge a bullet in his head.”
The 38-year-old officer involved, Florian M, has been remanded in custody after being charged with voluntary homicide.
His lawyer Laurent-Franck Liénard said he was “devastated” by the incident, adding: “he doesn’t get up in the morning to kill people”.
“The first words he pronounced were to say sorry and the last words he said were to say sorry to the family,” he said.
Florian told prosecutors he saw the yellow Mercedes-AMG sports car with a Polish number plate being “driven at high speed in a bus lane”.
He said: “In view of his behaviour and the apparent young age of the occupants, I decided to follow, so as to carry out a check.
“During the journey, the driver was responsible for several traffic violations.”
As Florian and a colleague approached Nahel’s vehicle they reportedly took out their service pistols.
Florian said: “We pointed them at the driver to dissuade him from restarting.”
He then admitted to discharging his pistol once, as the car moved forward.
Florian added: “[It was] because the driver appeared to be dangerous.
“We were afraid of being hit by the vehicle.”
Florian’s testament was read out by Pascal Prache, the Nanterre prosecutor, during a press conference yesterday.
Prache confirmed the evidence included a video of the shooting, in which Florian was heard saying “I’ll place a bullet in your head” before he opened fire.
He added Nahel “died as a result of the policeman’s shooting”.
He said: “The legal conditions for the use of the weapon were not justified.”
Investigators later found no drugs, alcohol or weapons in Nahel’s car, it was reported.
Florian was placed in solitary confinement in La Santé, one of Paris’s toughest prisons on Thursday night.
He is appealing his murder charge today, after a judge said he would be remanded in custody until his trial.
Despite the progress in the case, fighting between riot cops and gangs of youths broke out at a “White March” in Nanterre this afternoon.
It was there that Nahel was killed on Tuesday morning as he sat at the wheel of a car.
More than 6000 people joined the march – a traditional show of respect in France, when mourners wear white and remember somebody who has died.
Among those taking part was Nahel’s mother, Monica, who placed herself on a truck while wearing a “Justice for Nahel” shirt.
She was heard chanting: “I am for Nahel, I am for Nahel,”
It was echoed by the crowd who shouted: “Justice for Nahel! Justice for Nahel.”
But as the march progressed, youths began lighting fires and throwing projectiles at hundreds of riot police in the area.
Within minutes, large clouds of thick black smoke were seen mingling with tear gas fired by the officers.
A local cop said: “The atmosphere is very tense and violence is ongoing.”
The demonstration came as President Emmanuel Macron scheduled a new emergency cabinet meeting on Friday morning.
He will again sit down with police chiefs and senior ministers to reassess the response to the growing unrest plaguing Paris.
The President has described the shooting as “inexplicable and inexcusable” but called for “respect and calm”.
However, police unions have been enraged by his comments, with the Alliance Police accusing him of “condemning our colleagues before justice has had the chance to speak”.
It comes as Nahel’s heartbroken mum revealed his tragic last words before he was killed.
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James Liveris
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