The execution killing of an adolescent in Paris sparked riots and looting across Europe last night, as images of French President Emmanuel Macron partying with Elton John while his country burned sparked a furious backlash.
Mr. Macron was photographed at Paris's Accor Arena on Wednesday evening, witnessing the singer on his farewell tour, while rioters wreaked havoc in the capital following Tuesday's fatal shooting of 17-year-old Nahel.
Alongside his wife Brigitte, the French president was photographed arm-in-arm with the legendary 76-year-old artist, whom he awarded France's Legion of Honor. However, while Macron was mingling backstage, police were engaged in violent clashes with protesters, resulting in 650 arrests across the country overnight - as public anger continued to spill out onto the streets of France's main cities for a third night.
Protesters set fire to automobiles, blocked roads, and launched objects at police. As a bank was set on fire, other demonstrators scrawled "Vengeance for Nahel" on buildings and bus shelters. In a further escalation of the disorder, reports indicate that violent clashes have spread to the capital of Belgium, Brussels, amid concerns that protests could spread to other European capitals. In a last-ditch effort to pacify the civil unrest, some 40,000 French police officers are being deployed nationwide today.
The Telegraph reported that Thierry Mariani, an MEP with Marine Le Pen's National Rally, was outraged by Macron's photo with Elton John, stating, "While France was on fire, Macron applauded Elton John."
The violence persisted despite the preliminary charge of voluntary homicide against the police officer accused of pulling the trigger. There are also mounting concerns that the chaos will spread to other parts of Europe after footage of Belgium-based riots emerged on social media. In the Belgian neighborhood of Anneessens, riot police armed with body armor and shields were seen invading the streets.
Protesters, some wearing hoodies and masks, clashed with authorities in the streets while torching vehicles and using fireworks as weapons. The disorder was purportedly organized via social media in response to the Tuesday shooting death of 17-year-old Nahel M. in his car by a French police officer. Belgian police spokeswoman Ilse Van de Keere stated that several fires were extinguished and at least one vehicle was torched during scuffles related to the murder in France, during which approximately a dozen individuals were detained.
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Pascal Prache, the prosecutor, stated that his preliminary investigation led him to the conclusion that "the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met." Despite government appeals for calm and assurances that order would be restored, smoke billowed from vehicles and garbage was set ablaze in the Paris suburb of Nanterre following a peaceful march in honor of the teenager identified only by his first name, Nahel.
Gerald Darmanin, the minister of the interior, stated that the number of officers on the streets would more than quadruple, from 9,000 to 40,000, following a morning crisis conference held in response to violence that injured dozens of police officers and damaged nearly 100 public buildings. In the region of Paris alone, the number of deployed officers would more than double to 5,000. Mr. Darmanin stated, "The professionals of disorder must return to their homes."
While there is currently no need to proclaim a state of emergency - a measure taken to quell weeks of rioting in 2005 - he added, 'The state's response will be very firm.' He stated that more than 180 arrests had been made prior to Thursday and that there would 'certainly' be more.
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