UK Warns Citizens to Avoid Riots in France

Firefighters stand as they extinguish burning vehicles during clashes between protesters and police, after the death of Nahel, a 17-year-old teenager killed by a French police officer during a traffic stop, in Nanterre, Paris suburb, France, on June 28, 2023. (Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters)

The UK government has issued a travel warning as riots in France spread for a fourth night over the police shooting of a 17-year-old driver.

It comes after the U.S. embassy in Paris issued similar warnings urging citizens to exercise caution.

Widespread riots in France were triggered on Tuesday after a traffic police officer fatally shot Nahel M., a teenager of Algerian descent, at point blank when the teen tried to drive away.

A protest in Nanterre, where the boy lived and was shot, quickly escalated to nationwide rioting in cities including Paris, Roubaix, Marseille, Lyon, and Strasbourg. Some 2,000 arrests were made.

In guidance published on Friday, British nationals were warned to monitor the media, avoid areas where riots are taking place, and follow advice from local authorities.

“Since 27 June, riots have taken place across France. Many have turned violent. Shops, public buildings, and parked cars have been targeted,” the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office (FCDO) said.

“There may be disruptions to road travel and local transport provision may be reduced. Some local authorities may impose curfews. Locations and timing of riots are unpredictable.”

Travellers were advised to check the latest advice when travelling.

The FCDO also urged nationals to exercise caution on Saturday if they plan to attend demonstrations against the Iranian regime as one of the organiser’s rallies in 2018 has been “the target of an attempted bomb attack.”

According to the FCDO, French authorities have banned the rally in Paris over security concerns, but demonstrations in other cities are reportedly set to go ahead.

“British nationals should reconsider any plans to attend such meetings, and if you do, be aware of your surroundings at all times, and move away quickly from disturbances,” the FCDO said.

Around 17 million British nationals visit France every year, according to the FCDO.

Almost 1,000 Arrests Overnight

Some 45,000 police officers and armoured vehicles were deployed on Friday night to quell the unrest.

Early Saturday, firefighters in Nanterre extinguished blazes set by protesters that left scorched remains of cars strewn across the streets. In the neighboring suburb Colombes, protesters overturned garbage bins and used them for makeshift barricades.

Looters during the evening broke into a gun shop and made off with weapons in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille, police said. Officers in Marseille arrested nearly 90 people as groups of protesters lit cars on fire and broke store windows to take what was inside.

Buildings and businesses were also vandalized in the eastern city of Lyon, where a third of the roughly 30 arrests made were for theft, police said. Authorities reported fires in the streets after an unauthorized protest drew more than 1,000 people earlier Friday evening.

Firefighters work to extinguish a burning container as unrest continues following the death of Nahel, a 17-year-old teenager killed by a French police officer in Nanterre during a traffic stop, in Paris, on July 1, 2023. (Juan Medina/Reuters)

According to the Interior Ministry, 1,311 arrests were made on Friday night and 79 police officers and gendarmes were injured. Some 915 arrests were made Thursday night and 150 were made on Wednesday.

While the number of overnight arrests was the highest yet, there were fewer fires, cars burned, and police stations attacked around France than the previous night, according to the Interior Ministry. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin claimed the violence was of “much less intensity.”

Burial

Nahel’s funeral is due to be held on Saturday morning. The family has asked journalists not to attend.

The officer who shot was charged with voluntary manslaughter on Thursday.

According to prosecutor Pascal Prache, traffic police tried to pull Nahel over after they saw a Mercedes driving in a bus lane on Tuesday morning but Nahel ignored sirens and lights and committed several traffic offences, endangering the lives of a pedestrian and a cyclist.

He said the officers later pointed their guns at Nahel, who got stuck in a traffic jam and ordered him to turn off the engine. When the teen disobeyed and tried to drive off, one officer shot him.

The prosecutor said Nahel was previously known to police for previous incidents of failure to comply with traffic stops. The teen was otherwise not known to have a criminal record.

Tuesday’s killing was the third fatal shooting during traffic stops in France so far in 2023, down from a record 13 last year.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.