France violence: Hundreds arrested in 5th night of unrest

Unrest and riot-like situations continue to shake France for a fifth night, as authorities arrested hundreds of people nationwide overnight Saturday, and demonstrators clashed with police officers in riot gear. With the looting, fires, and setting off of fireworks, Paris and its suburbs were plagued by fresh incidents of violence after the death of a teenager in Nanterre.

The violent protests that have shaken France in response to the killing of a 17-year-old by a police officer continued for a fifth night, as authorities arrested hundreds of people nationwide overnight Saturday (July 1), and demonstrators clashed with police officers in riot gear. Credit: Reuters Photo

A government minister described the evening as calmer than recent ones, but local news media reported rioting, looting and clashes in Marseille, the second-largest city in France. Credit: Reuters Photo

While the number of officers deployed across the country had not increased, more were sent to quell protesters in Lyon, Grenoble and Marseille, according to the interior minister, Gérald Darmanin. Credit: Reuters Photo

Tensions continue to remain high after the funeral Saturday for the 17-year-old, of Algerian and Moroccan descent, who was fatally shot Tuesday during a traffic stop in Nanterre, a Paris suburb. Credit: Reuters Photo

Many protesters related with the victim, connecting his fate with their own experiences of neglect and racial discrimination in France’s poorer urban suburbs. Credit: Reuters Photo

In a statement on Twitter early Sunday, Darmanin, the interior minister, said 427 people had been arrested overnight Saturday. On Friday night, more than 1,300 had been detained. He added that 45,000 police officers had been deployed across the country on Saturday evening, a number similar to the night before. Credit: Reuters photo