Unrest erupts in Paris after teen is shot dead by police

Protests and unrest erupts across Paris after a teenage boy was shot dead by the traffic police for failing to stop when ordered to by traffic police. The teenager, identified as Nael M, died of bullet wounds in the chest despite help from emergency services. 

A video of the incident, circulating on social media, shows two police officers trying to stop the vehicle, one of them is pointing his weapon at the driver through the window and fires when he drives off. The car moved for a few dozen metres before it stopped. 

The incident took place in the suburb of Nanterre. The teen was driving a rental Mercedes. One of the policemen reportedly said, “I'm going to lodge a bullet in your head.” Witnesses described the incident as an execution. 

The police initially said that they fired the gun after the driver rammed them with his car. The victim, a 17-year-old, was a delivery driver of French-Algerian descent. The officer accused of shooting the teenager has been detained on homicide charges.

A series of protests erupted on Tuesday night after the incident. Youths set rubbish bins alight, hurled fireworks at policemen and bus shelters were destroyed. The riot police eventually used tear gas to break up protesters, some of whom created barricades throughout the night. 

Unrest also broke out in the towns of Asnières, Colombes, Suresnes, Aubervilliers, Clichy-sous-Bois and Mantes-la-Jolie. So far, according to authorities, 24 people have been arrested. 

Two separate investigations have been opened following the incident-- one into a possible killing by a public official, and another into the driver's failure to stop his vehicle and alleged attempt to kill a police officer.