Officials in France have deployed 45,000 police officers and armored vehicles in anticipation of a fourth night of riots sparked by the fatal police shot of a teenager during a traffic stop.
The disturbance has affected numerous French cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Strasbourg, and Lille.
17-year-old Nahel M. was shot and slain by police in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. The incident was documented on video and sparked riots throughout the entire European country.
Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin reported that 270 people were detained on Friday night, with a total of 1,100 arrests since the beginning of the protests.
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In Marseille, rioters robbed a firearms shop, stealing several hunting rifles but no ammunition.
The mayor of Marseille, Benoit Payan, tweeted on Friday that the French government must dispatch more troops because “the scenes of violence and looting are unacceptable.”
Darmanin demanded that local authorities halt bus and tram traffic after 9:00 p.m., adding that 45,000 police officers will be deployed.
“The next few hours will be decisive, and I know I can count on your flawless efforts,” he wrote to the nation’s firefighters and police officers.
When asked on a television news station if the government would proclaim a state of emergency, he responded, “Quite simply, we’re not ruling out any possibility, and we’ll see what the President of the Republic decides after tonight.”
