As nationwide unrest in France continues over the killing of a teenager of North African descent, protesters rammed a car into the mayor’s home in Paris suburb on Sunday (July 2), injuring his family members. Taking to Twitter, Mayor Vincent Jeanbrun said that protesters rammed a car into his home, before “setting a fire”.
“My wife and one of my children were injured,” Mayor Jeanbrun said. “My determination to protect and serve the Republic is greater than ever. I will not back down,” he added.
“Given the extreme seriousness of these events, the public prosecutor’s office has decided to classify them as an assassination attempt,” says Créteil court’s public prosecutor Stéphane said on the incident.
On Saturday, around 45,000 police personnel were on the streets with specialised elite units, armoured vehicles, and helicopters brought in to reinforce Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, the news agency Reuters reported. The arrests in overnight riots have climbed to 719.
China complains to France about Chinese tourists injured in riots
The Chinese consulate in Marseille complained to France about Chinese tourists being injured in the riots. Issuing a statement on Sunday, China’s Consular Affairs Office called for France to ensure the safety of Chinese citizens and their property.
Cette nuit, un cap a été franchi dans l’horreur et l’ignominie. Mon domicile a été attaqué et ma famille victime d’une tentative d’assassinat.
Ma détermination à protéger et servir la République est plus grande que jamais. Je ne reculerai pas. #PasPourRien #Emeutes ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/9HW1eAFCXN
— Vincent Jeanbrun (@VincentJeanbrun) July 2, 2023
The bus carrying Chinese tourists was attacked on Thursday and since then, Chinese tourists have left France, the statement said. The statement also added that Chinese citizens in France or heading to France should “strengthen prevention” and be “more vigilant and cautious” in light of the riots.
The killing of Nahel has reignited longstanding complaints by poor and racially mixed urban communities of police violence and racism. On Friday, the UN rights office said that the killing was “a moment for the country to seriously address the deep issues of racism and racial discrimination in law enforcement”.
However, the French foreign ministry dismissed the criticism, saying any suggestion of systemic discrimination in the police force was “totally unfounded”.
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