Nahel Merzouk riots
A series of riots in France began on 27 June 2023 following the fatal shooting of Nahel Merzouk in an encounter with two police officers in Nanterre, a suburb of Paris. Residents started a protest outside the police headquarters on the 27 June, which later escalated into rioting as demonstrators set cars alight, destroyed bus stops, and shot fireworks at police. In Viry-Châtillon, a town just south of Paris with a history of violence towards police, a group of teenagers set a bus ablaze.
| Nahel Merzouk riots | |
|---|---|
| Date | 27 June – 15 July 2023 (19 days) |
| Location | France and other French-speaking territories |
| Caused by | Killing of Nahel Merzouk |
| Methods | Riots, civil disobedience, civil resistance, protests, arson, shooting, looting |
| Casualties, arrests, and damages | |
| Death(s) | 2 confirmed |
| Injuries | 808 officers; civil not determined |
| Arrested | 3,300+ |
| Damage | €650 million |
| Property damage | 1,000+ buildings damaged 5,662 vehicles burned |
In Mantes-la-Jolie, a town 40 km northwest of Paris, the town hall was set ablaze after being firebombed on the night of 27 June, burning until 03:15 (CEST). Clashes continued throughout the night across France, including Toulouse and Lille. Unrest was also reported in Asnières, Colombes, Suresnes, Aubervilliers, Clichy-sous-Bois and Mantes-la-Jolie.
By 29 June, over 150 people had been arrested, 24 officers had been injured, and 40 cars had been torched. Fearing greater unrest, Gérald Darmanin, Interior Minister of France, deployed 1,200 riot police and gendarmes in and around Paris, later adding an additional 2,000. On 29 June, Darmanin announced that the government would deploy 40,000 officers nationwide, including RAID and GIGN counter-terrorist units, to quell the violence. After 4 July, the intensity of the unrest dropped drastically, and were reportedly over by 15 July.