Who was Nehal? Why his death triggered violent protests in France
1 min read 01 Jul 2023, 02:48 PM ISTFrance protests: Thousands of people are on the road demanding justice for 17-year-old Nehal who was shot dead on Tuesday morning during a failed traffic stop in the suburbs of Paris
PremiumFrance President Emmanuel Macron has asked parents of the country to keep their teenagers home as protests are rocking different parts of the nation. Thousands of people are on the road demanding justice for 17-year-old Nehal who was shot dead on Tuesday morning during a failed traffic stop in the suburbs of Paris.
The protestors turned violent in many areas prompting police to arrest more than 800 people till now. France administration also informed that more than 200 police personnel are injured.
Who was Nahel?
A boy of Algerian descent, Nahel was brought up by his mother and worked as a delivery driver. The people known to him revealed that he loved rugby and was part of the Pirates of Nanterre rugby club. Nahel's education was very inconsistent and he was trained to be an electrician in a school near his residence.
Nahel was not interested in studies and had a poor attendance record in college. Although he didn't have an official criminal record, he was known to the local police of his area.
Why Nahel was shot?
The police claimed that they attempted to stop Nahel at a traffic checkpoint as he looked too young to have a driver's license. Moreover, he was driving a car with Polish number plates. When the police tried to stop him, Nahel drove his car towards them with the intention of hurting them, the police said.
Citing danger to themselves and others on the road, the police official said he was forced to open fire.
The initial investigation against the accused police officer has revealed that "the conditions for the legal use of the weapon were not met." The police officer is now under formal investigation on the charges of voluntary homicide.
Nahel's mother Mounia alleged that "the officer saw an Arab face, a little kid, and wanted to take his life," she told the media.
The videos of the police encounter with Nehal amplified the intensity of protests in the country with people claiming Nehal to be another victim of police atrocities against innocents. In 2022, 13 people were killed by the police in a similar manner, the reports claimed.
