A police rubber bullet may have killed a man in the French port city of Marseille. President Macron is considering restricting social media because of the unrest.
During nightly riots in Marseille over the weekend, a young man may have died after being shot by police with a rubber bullet. The 27-year-old died on Sunday night, probably as a result of a “violent blow to the chest” caused by a “rubber bullet-type projectile”, the public prosecutor’s office in the southern French port city of Marseille told the AFP news agency.
According to initial findings, the impact of the projectile led to cardiac arrest. At the time, the area had been shaken by “riots and looting,” prosecutors said. However, it is unclear whether the man took part in them.
The public prosecutor’s office initiated investigations into the circumstances, the criminal police and the police supervisory authority were involved.
16 arrests on Wednesday night
The unrest has continued to ebb since the weekend. According to the Interior Ministry, there were 16 arrests nationwide on Wednesday night. As the newspaper “Le Parisien” reported, with reference to further information from the ministry, 78 cars were set on fire nationwide and eight buildings were set on fire. Police stations were spared attacks by rioters.
French President Emmanuel Macron is considering blocking social media as a measure to prevent further unrest. One has to think about the use of social networks by the protesting young people and possible bans, Macron said at a meeting with mayors on Tuesday in Paris, the broadcaster BFMTV reported. “Because when it becomes a tool for gatherings or for trying to kill, it’s a real issue,” Macron said.
On Friday, the President also blamed social networks for the escalation of violence in the protests against police violence. Violent gatherings were organized there.
Police presence should be maintained
Macron announced that the massive police presence should initially be maintained as it acts as a deterrent. If this is not enough, the security forces should take an “offensive” approach.
Macron also wants to use fast procedures to provide help for cities with burnt-out schools and damage to public infrastructure. The summer sale has been extended by a week to allow retailers to catch up on lost sales during the riots.
border controls against firecracker imports from Belgium
Meanwhile, in northern France, controls at the border with Belgium have been tightened to stop the import of fireworks, the newspaper “Le Parisien” reported on Tuesday evening, citing the prefecture. It should be prevented that the rioters stock up on supplies of firecrackers.
People with pyrotechnics have already been stopped on both sides of the border. The prefecture in northern France ordered a ban on the sale and carrying of fireworks and petrol in cans until mid-July.
Since the death of 17-year-old Nahel by a police officer’s shot during a traffic stop on Tuesday last week, France has been shaken by serious riots.
There were repeated looting, arson attacks and violent confrontations between police officers and rioters. Apart from Paris, the riots in Marseille were particularly violent. Across the country, around 1,100 buildings, including many town halls, and more than 200 police stations were damaged.
The officer who fired the shot at the youth is being investigated on suspicion of manslaughter.