February riots 2017 French riots

1 february riots

1.1 théo affair
1.2 investigation

1.2.1 previous offenses


1.3 aftermath
1.4 reactions

february riots
théo affair

on thursday, 2 february 2017, 4 police officers approached group of young people @ 4:53 pm in rose-des-vents neighborhood of aulnay-sous-bois (seine-saint-denis), paris suburb.

according 22-year-old theo l., local educator, went friend of sister , had visited friends in neighborhood. said police approached him , ordered him stand against wall frisked. said 1 of men police accosted asked why being threatened fine of 450 euros, , 1 of policemen responded big slap . theo l. says defended victim of slap, , beaten , insulted struggled back.

the police account of incident differs. said man had intervened violently against officer arresting drug dealer, could, result, have run away. according account, young man restrained after, among other things, punching policeman in face.

the operating account igpn videos temporally consistent officer s testimony, igpn fails settle question of started altercation.

théo l. restrained 3 police officers , fourth showered group distance teargas. following incident, théo suffered longitudinal 10 cm wound anal canal , sphincter muscle, caused insertion of telescopic stick, resulted in temporary disability (itt) of sixty days.

théo l. said object of racist insults (including word bamboula ), suffered new blows in police car, , claims have been photographed in humiliating position policemen using snapchat.

at hearing policeman indicted rape, police stated hit théo s legs , have no idea how théo l. injured. use of tear gas (forbidden in these circumstances, according le dauphiné libéré) was, according police, accidental.

investigation

the prosecutor of bobigny opened criminal investigation violences volontaires en réunion par personnes dépositaires de l autorité publique (willful violence in group persons vested public authority).

the inspection générale de la police nationale (igpn) favored account injury anal canal nonintentional, however, judge in charge of case placed under examination policeman had used telescopic baton, , placed other 3 under examination aggravated intentional violence. 4 officers placed under judicial review, , 3 banned official police activity. minister of interior bruno le roux suspended 4 policemen precautionary measure. 3 of officers involved in arrest charged aggravated assault , fourth being investigated rape.

on february 14, 2017, l obs published testimony of mohamed k. says had been victim of violence of same officer primary accused in théo case, week earlier — policeman nicknamed red beard . said received numerous blows policeman , colleagues, , had been object of racist insults.

the igpn seized case @ request of police headquarters , interior minister, bruno le roux. Éric dupond-moretti, lawyer in théo case, appointed represent mohamed k well.

previous offenses

french daily l humanité has reported police commissioner of aulnay-sous-bois in 2008 sentenced one-year suspended sentence , 1 year disqualification not preventing crime. police officer had placed trim between buttocks of person had committed road offense, had accused police of having threatened sodomise. commissioner, had arrived @ scene, had remained passive in face actions of subordinates.

aftermath

following initial reports of assault on théo, there unrest 2 nights in aulnay-sous-bois. several cars lit on fire, bus shelters had windows smashed , suburb had street lighting knocked out. 5 people arrested. unrest later spread other suburbs of paris. on saturday 11 february, crowd of people gathered protest police brutality in bobigny. while protest peaceful, small group of protestors began throwing objects @ police , setting cars on fire. police responded deploying tear gas , arresting 37 people. next night, 12 february, around 50 youths gathered in argenteuil , began throwing objects @ police. set cars , garbage bins on fire , attacked public bus. group assault bus s driver , assaulted journalist. 11 people, 8 of them minors, arrested. group of south korean tourists mugged on coach bus rioters in paris.

more clashes occurred in paris on 15 february, police deploying tear gas. protestors smashed windows of buildings , set fires. on night of 15th, 49 people arrested around paris after engaging in similar behaviors of unrest occurring near gare du nord , place de la république. 21 people arrested in rouen same night.

reactions

french president françois hollande visited théo in hospital on 7 february. policeman told le parisien events similar 2005 french riots. prime minister bernard cazeneuve, called better law enforcement on 7 february 2017, saying know how exposed police , gendarmes in fight against terrorism , violence, must absolutely exemplary @ every moment. sgp police unit union official said on c dans l air, 9 february, insult more or less appropriate. minister of interior bruno le roux, condemned these comments, did group sos racisme.

théo received public support of actor comedian omar sy, rapper youssoupha, valérie damidot, singer imany, director/actor mathieu kassovitz. on 15 february, dozens of artists published message of support theo l. in libération, written councilor of brétigny-sur-orge, steevy gustave, former event manager sos racisme, making suggestions in order improve performance of law enforcement. supporters included patrick bruel, hugues aufray, comedians josiane balasko, jean benguigui , mathilda may, director nils tavernier, avignon festival director olivier py , comedian anne roumanoff. other media in case made more general denunciation of police methods.

in contrast many condemnations of police, lawyer gilles-william goldnadel viewed case anti-cop hate. said possible misconduct of police officers can not put blame upon entire french police force, exemplary , generalize entire profession possible crime of 1 or few consubstantial racism. front national presidential candidate marine le pen announced support police , criticized french government not cracking down on rioters harder.