France riots – live: Children as young as 12 detained for attacking police amid Paris protests

Average age of 3,354 people arrested over past week is 17, says interior minister

Police clash with rioters as unrest continues for fifth night

Children as young as 12 or 13 have been detained for attacking law enforcement and setting fires during six nights of violence after the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk in suburban Paris.

The average age of the 3,354 people arrested over the past week was 17, the interior minister Gerald Darmanin said.

In all, 99 town halls have been attacked during the unrest, including an attempt to ram a burning vehicle into the home of l’Hay-les-Les Roses mayor Vincent Jeanbrun. His wife and one of his young children were injured during the attack, which began at the weekend while they slept.

“We saw the real face of the rioters, that of assassins,” Mr Jeanbrun said in an emotional speech. France and “democracy itself” were being attacked in the days of rioting, he said.

Meanwhile, an “insulting” fundraiser set up for the family of the police officer who shot Nahel has amassed more than €1 million (£840,000).

Organised by Jean Messiha, a former adviser to the French far-right politician Marine Le Pen, the appeal has raised far more than the donation page set up for the family of the teenage victim.

Key Points

• ‘Insulting’ fundraiser for officer who shot teen hits €1m as fraction raised for victim
• Overnight arrests slow down in sixth night of violence
• Paris fireman dies in protest blaze
• French mayor says home ram-raided in ‘assassination attempt on family'
• Investigation for attempted murder after attack on mayor, confirms government
• Police arrested 719 people nationwide by early Sunday

[3 July 2023 04:04 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

At least 78 people arrested on Sunday

At least 78 people were reportedly arrested across France yesterday, significantly down from 719 arrests the day before.

More than 3,000 people have been detained overall following a mass security deployment.

Hundreds of police and firefighters have been injured in the violence, although authorities haven’t said how many protesters have been hurt.

France’s justice minister has warned that young people who share calls for violence on Snapchat or other apps could face prosecution.

[3 July 2023 03:52 · Alisha Rahaman Sarkar]

Macron to meet leaders of parliament today

President Emmanuel Macron held a special security meeting yesterday night and reportedly plans to meet today with the heads of both houses of parliament and on Tuesday with the mayors of 220 towns and cities affected by the protests.

Mr Macron also wants to start a detailed, longer-term assessment of the reasons that led to the unrest, an official told the Associated Press.

Highlighting the seriousness of the rioting, Macron has delayed what would have been the first state visit to Germany by a French president in 23 years, which had been scheduled to begin yesterday evening.

[3 July 2023 03:00 · Holly Evans]

Family grateful for support but ‘very much against the violence’, says aunt

Speaking to-The Independent’s Bel Trew in Paris, Nahel’s aunt Hatifa said: “I ask that the violence stop. I don’t want people to get hurt. The family is very much against the violence.”

“We knew Nahel’s killing would have some impact but not this much. I think there are mass protests because so many mothers, like my sister, have had enough of being scared all the time.”

She said the family were “very grateful” for the global support, which had helped as they dealt with “deep grief”.

“But I hope that Nahel’s death is going to trigger some kind of change that means this never happens again,” she added. “At the end of the day, a grown-up shot a baby.”

Nahel’s aunt Hatifa said the family are ‘very much against the violence’ (AFP via Getty Images)