Killing of Nahel Merzouk: Difference between revisions

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On 27 June 2023, '''Nahel Merzouk''' (25 February 2006 – 27 June 2023),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deces.matchid.io/id/UvTdk72G0lTn|title=matchID - Moteur de recherche des décès|website=deces.matchid.io|access-date=19 July 2023|archive-date=13 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713145437/https://deces.matchid.io/id/UvTdk72G0lTn|url-status=live}}</ref> a 17-year-old [[French people|French]] youth of [[Morocco|Moroccan]] and [[Algeria]]n descent,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Porter |first=Catherine |date=29 June 2023 |title=Who is Nahel Merzouk? |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/world/europe/nahel-france-police-shooting-nanterre.html |access-date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701042042/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/29/world/europe/nahel-france-police-shooting-nanterre.html |archive-date=1 July 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> was shot at [[point-blank range]] and killed by police officer Florian M., when he didn'tdid not comply with aan requestorder to turn off ignitionstop and instead attempted to drive away in [[Nanterre]], a suburb of [[Paris]], [[France]]. Initial reporting on the incident (informed by police statements) was later contradicted by a video posted online, which led to [[Nahel Merzouk riots|widespread protests and riots]]. Symbols of the state such as town halls, schools, police stations, and other buildings were attacked.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 July 2023 |title=Death of Nahel M.: Over 1,300 arrested during Friday night riots |work=[[Le Monde]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] & [[Agence France-Presse]] |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/07/01/riots-continue-into-friday-night-throughout-france-with-hundreds-more-arrested_6040540_7.html |url-status=live |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701214057/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/07/01/riots-continue-into-friday-night-throughout-france-with-hundreds-more-arrested_6040540_7.html |archive-date=1 July 2023}}</ref> The [[Interior Ministry (France)|Interior Ministry]] reported that more than 5,000 vehicles had been set on fire, along with 10,000 garbage cans; nearly 1,000 buildings had been burnt, damaged or looted; 250 police stations and [[gendarmerie]]s had been attacked; and more than 700 police officers had been injured.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Antoine |last1=Albertini |first2=Luc |last2=Bronner |title=Riots in France: The appalling toll of days and nights of looting, fires, assaults |work=[[Le Monde]] |date=3 July 2023 |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/07/03/looting-fires-assaults-the-appalling-toll-of-five-days-and-nights-of-rioting-in-france_6042014_7.html |access-date=4 July 2023 |archive-date=5 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230705030132/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2023/07/03/looting-fires-assaults-the-appalling-toll-of-five-days-and-nights-of-rioting-in-france_6042014_7.html |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="riots-shake-france"/>

The killing—condemned by President [[Emmanuel Macron]] as "inexplicable" and "inexcusable"<ref>{{cite news |author=M. I. |agency=AFP |title=Mineur tué à Nanterre : Macron évoque un acte " inexplicable " et " inexcusable " |language=fr |trans-title=Minor killed in Nanterre: Macron evokes an "inexplicable" and "inexcusable" act |url=https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/mineur-tue-a-nanterre-macron-evoque-un-acte-inexplicable-et-inexcusable-28-06-2023-2526553_20.php#11 |access-date=15 July 2023 |publisher=Le Point |date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230713004306/https://www.lepoint.fr/politique/mineur-tue-a-nanterre-macron-evoque-un-acte-inexplicable-et-inexcusable-28-06-2023-2526553_20.php#11 |archive-date=13 July 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref>—became part of a broader public debate regarding aggressive French law enforcement,<ref name="sorrow">{{Cite news |last1=Breeden |first1=Aurelien |last2=Méheut |first2=Constant |date=28 June 2023 |title=Protests and Sorrow After Fatal Police Traffic Encounter in France |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/world/europe/france-police-shooting-paris-nanterre.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630013949/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/28/world/europe/france-police-shooting-paris-nanterre.html |archive-date=30 June 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> [[racial profiling]],<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/02/france-nahel-soccer-hijab.html |title=A Fatal Shooting and a Hijab Ban: Two Faces of France's Racial Divisions |last=Porter |first=Catherine |date=2 July 2023 |quote=In 2017, an investigation by France’s civil liberties ombudsman, the Défenseur des Droits, found that “young men perceived to be Black or Arab” were 20 times as likely to be subjected to police identity checks compared with the rest of the population. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712025834/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/02/france-nahel-soccer-hijab.html |archive-date=12 July 2023 |access-date=15 July 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> immigration, perceived lack of [[social integration]]<ref>{{Cite news |work=Public Sénat |title=Sécurité, immigration : le tournant identitaire de LR embarrasse la majorité sénatoriale |last=Barbarit |first=Simon |language=fr |url=https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/politique/securite-immigration-le-tournant-identitaire-de-lr-embarrasse-la-majorite-senatoriale |date=11 July 2023 |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724085609/https://www.publicsenat.fr/actualites/politique/securite-immigration-le-tournant-identitaire-de-lr-embarrasse-la-majorite-senatoriale |url-status=live }}</ref> and the stakes of naming the subsequent suburban violence a "riotrioting" rather than a "revoltrevolts".<ref name="revolt or riot">{{Cite news |newspaper=Ouest France |title=Mort de Nahel. Violences, révolte… Pourquoi l'expression " émeute " s'est imposée |last=Lescarmontier |first=Julie |date=5 July 2023 |language=fr |url=https://www.ouest-france.fr/faits-divers/emeutes-urbaines/mort-de-nahel-violences-revolte-pourquoi-lexpression-emeute-sest-imposee-c39ab18e-1b06-11ee-9805-48f2f86dced9 |access-date=25 July 2023 |archive-date=12 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230712040653/https://www.ouest-france.fr/faits-divers/emeutes-urbaines/mort-de-nahel-violences-revolte-pourquoi-lexpression-emeute-sest-imposee-c39ab18e-1b06-11ee-9805-48f2f86dced9 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 28 June, the president of the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]], [[Yaël Braun-Pivet]], asked deputies "to respect a minute of silence in Nahel's memory".<ref>{{Cite news |work=LCI |date=28 June 2023 |language=fr |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPv7ZZbnTY |title=Une minute de silence à l'Assemblée nationale pour Nahel, tué à Nanterre |access-date=28 July 2023 |archive-date=28 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230728104559/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejPv7ZZbnTY |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":12">{{Cite web |date=28 June 2023 |title=France braces for protests after 'unforgivable' police shooting |agency=AFP |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230628-protests-flare-up-in-france-after-police-shoot-teenager |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629054751/https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230628-protests-flare-up-in-france-after-police-shoot-teenager |archive-date=29 June 2023 |access-date=28 June 2023 |website=[[France 24]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Background ==

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[[File:Hommage_Nahel_lieu_deces_-_IMG_20230704_090039.jpg|thumb|Sign at Nelson Mandela Square: «Combien de Nahel n'ont pas été filmés ?!?» (How many Nahels have not been filmed?)]]According to the public prosecutor of [[Nanterre]], two [[Paris Police Prefecture]] motorcycle officers noticed a [[Mercedes-Benz A-Class (W177)|Mercedes-Benz A Class]] AMG with a Polish license plate driving at high speed in a bus lane, driven by a young-looking person at around 7:55{{nbsp}}am. The officers activated their warning signals (audible and visual) and indicated to the driver of the car, then stationary at a red traffic light, to stop. The vehicle started moving and ran the red light. The officers followed the car and alerted their superiors via radio. The car committed multiple traffic violations, endangering a pedestrian and a cyclist.

Due to traffic congestion, the vehicle was eventually forced to stop. The police officers got off their motorcycles, pointed their guns at the driver, and ordered him to turn off the engine. Instead, the vehicle started to pull away, and one of the police officers, 38-year-old Florian M., working his ninth consecutive day without a day off, fired a shot at the driver at point-blank range. The vehicle continued forward before crashing into the street sign marking the Nelson Mandela Square<ref>{{Cite web |last=Machecourt |first=Clément |date=28 June 2023 |title=Mort de Nahel : Malgré les appels au calme, Nanterre craint une nouvelle nuit de violences |url=https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/nanterre_92050/mort-de-nahel-malgre-les-appels-au-calme-nanterre-craint-une-nouvelle-nuit-de-violences_59789630.html |language=fr |website=actu.fr |quote=Le panneau « Place Nelson-Mandela » penché témoigne du choc de la voiture qui y a terminé sa course. |access-date=24 July 2023 |archive-date=24 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230724015820/https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/nanterre_92050/mort-de-nahel-malgre-les-appels-au-calme-nanterre-craint-une-nouvelle-nuit-de-violences_59789630.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Mort de Nahel M. : les premières constatations de l'enquête |trans-title=Death of Nahel M.: the first findings of the investigation |newspaper=[[Le Monde]] |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2023/07/05/mort-de-nahel-m-les-premieres-constatations-de-l-enquete_6180715_3224.html |last1=Albertini |last2=Bronner |first1=Antoine |first2=Luc |date=5 July 2023 |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230720004025/https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2023/07/05/mort-de-nahel-m-les-premieres-constatations-de-l-enquete_6180715_3224.html |archive-date=20 July 2023 |access-date=19 July 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> at 8:19{{nbsp}}am. The rear passenger was arrested when he exited the vehicle. The front right passenger fled. Florian M. provided first aid to the driver, who was pronounced dead at 9:15{{nbsp}}am.<ref>{{cite news |access-date=29 June 2023 |date=29 June 2023 |language=fr |title=En direct : une information judiciaire pour homicide volontaire ouverte après la mort de Nahel |trans-title=Live: a judicial investigation for voluntary homicide opened after the death of Nahel |url=https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20230629-%F0%9F%94%B4-en-direct-la-conf%C3%A9rence-de-presse-du-procureur-de-nanterre-sur-la-mort-de-nahel |work=[[France 24]] |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629090936/https://www.france24.com/fr/france/20230629-%F0%9F%94%B4-en-direct-la-conf%C3%A9rence-de-presse-du-procureur-de-nanterre-sur-la-mort-de-nahel |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Esther |last=Paolini |access-date=29 June 2023 |date=29 June 2023 |language=fr |title=Mort de Nahel : le récit de la course-poursuite, minute par minute |trans-title=Death of Nahel: the story of the chase, minute by minute |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/mort-de-nahel-le-recit-de-la-course-poursuite-minute-par-minute-20230629 |website=[[Le Figaro]] |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629115630/https://www.lefigaro.fr/faits-divers/mort-de-nahel-le-recit-de-la-course-poursuite-minute-par-minute-20230629 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=30 June 2023 |date=29 June 2023 |work=[[BFM TV]] |title=Mort de Nahel: le procureur de Nanterre détaille le déroulé des faits |trans-title=Death of Nahel: the Nanterre prosecutor details the course of events |language=fr |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/mort-de-nahel-le-procureur-de-nanterre-detaille-le-deroule-des-faits_VN-202306290383.html |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630020443/https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/mort-de-nahel-le-procureur-de-nanterre-detaille-le-deroule-des-faits_VN-202306290383.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Police records indicate that Merzouk was known for previous incidents in which he failed to comply with [[traffic stop]]s.<ref name="riots-shake-france"/> On the day of his death, it is alleged that he "disobeyed and committed several traffic offences, endangering the lives of a pedestrian and a cyclist", and refused to turn off the ignition. Police shot Merzouk when the Mercedes began moving forward after it had been stopped.<ref name="riots-shake-france" /><ref>{{Cite news |title=French police accused of killing boy: What do we know about the case? |first=Hannah |last=Thompson |url=https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/French-police-accused-of-killing-boy-What-do-we-know-about-the-case |access-date=5 July 2023 |date=28 June 2023 |newspaper=The Connexion |archive-date=28 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628203324/http://www.connexionfrance.com/article/French-news/French-police-accused-of-killing-boy-What-do-we-know-about-the-case |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=France to deploy 40,000 officers amid protests after fatal police shooting of teen driver |first=N'dea |last=Yancey-Bragg |date=29 June 2023 |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/06/29/protests-continue-france-police-shooting-officers-deployed/70368157007/ |access-date=5 July 2023 |website=[[USA TODAY]] |language=en-US |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630102624/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2023/06/29/protests-continue-france-police-shooting-officers-deployed/70368157007/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

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Two investigations have been initiated: "refusal to comply" against Merzouk, and "voluntary homicide by a person in authority" against Florian M. The latter investigation has been assigned to the General Inspectorate of the National Police ([[IGPN]]).<ref>{{Cite web |first=David |last=Montagné |agency=AFP |date=28 June 2023 |title=Jeune homme tué à Nanterre après un refus d'obtempérer : après le drame, deux enquêtes ouvertes |trans-title=Young man killed in Nanterre after refusing to comply: after the tragedy, two investigations opened |url=https://www.europe1.fr/societe/jeune-homme-tue-a-nanterre-apres-un-refus-dobtemperer-apres-le-drame-deux-enquetes-ouvertes-4191285 |access-date=28 June 2023 |website=[[Europe 1]] |language=fr |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629133927/https://www.europe1.fr/societe/jeune-homme-tue-a-nanterre-apres-un-refus-dobtemperer-apres-le-drame-deux-enquetes-ouvertes-4191285 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |work=[[BFM TV]] |title=Mort de Naël: deux plaintes vont être déposées contre les policiers, annoncent les avocats de la famille de la victime |trans-title=Death of Naël: two complaints will be filed against the police, announce the lawyers for the victim's family |url=https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/mort-de-nael-deux-plaintes-vont-etre-deposees-contre-les-policiers-annoncent-les-avocats-de-la-famille-de-la-victime_VN-202306280333.html |access-date=28 June 2023 |language=fr |archive-date=29 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629193843/https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/mort-de-nael-deux-plaintes-vont-etre-deposees-contre-les-policiers-annoncent-les-avocats-de-la-famille-de-la-victime_VN-202306280333.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Trial ==

{{See also|Nahel Merzouk riots}}

On 3 June 2025, it was announced that Florian M. would go on trial in 2026 for the murder of Nahel Merzouk. It is expected to begin in the 2nd or 3rd quarter of 2026 per the [[Nanterre]] prosecutors office.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-06-03 |title=French police officer to go on trial for murder of teenager |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/french-police-officer-go-trial-murder-teenager-2025-06-03/ |access-date=2025-06-03 |work=Reuters |language=en}}</ref>

== Initial reactions ==

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By 29 June, over 150 people had been arrested,<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Chrisafis |first1=Angelique |last2=Paris |first2=Angelique Chrisafisin |date=29 June 2023 |title=France police shooting: 150 arrests as protests widen over teenager's death |language=en-GB |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/29/france-police-shooting-second-night-of-unrest-as-protests-over-teenagers-death-spread |access-date=29 June 2023 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630033240/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/29/france-police-shooting-second-night-of-unrest-as-protests-over-teenagers-death-spread |url-status=live}}</ref> 24 officers had been injured, and 40 cars had been torched.<ref name=":14" /><ref name=":9" /> Fearing greater unrest, Darmanin deployed 1,200 riot police and [[gendarmes]] in and around Paris, later adding an additional 2,000.<ref name=":9" /><ref name="sorrow" /><ref name=":14" /> On 29 June, he announced that the government would deploy 40,000 troops nationwide.<ref>{{Cite news |title=France to deploy 40,000 officers in wake of riots |date=29 June 2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/france-teen-shooting-riots-live-updates/live-66064274 |access-date=29 June 2023 |work=[[Deutsche Welle]] |language=en |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630020639/https://www.dw.com/en/france-teen-shooting-riots-live-updates/live-66064274 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to Darmanin, over 1,350 vehicles were set on fire, and over 1,300 arrests were made in connection with the riots.<ref name="TELEGRAPH">{{cite news |first=Roland |last=Oliphant |date=1 July 2023 |title=Police arrest 1,300 rioters in fourth night of violence ahead of slain teenager's funeral |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/07/01/police-arrest-1000-rioters-nahel-funeral-france-violence/ |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |access-date=1 July 2023 |archive-date=1 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701094916/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/07/01/police-arrest-1000-rioters-nahel-funeral-france-violence/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

On the afternoon of June 29, thousands of people held a demonstration ("white march") led by mothers and activists in Nanterre demanding "justice for Nahel".<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Foroudi |first1=Layli |last2=Olive |first2=Noemie |date=29 June 2023 |title=France unrest: Riots spread, thousands march in memory of shot teenager |language=en |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-150-arrests-overnight-unrest-after-teenager-killed-by-police-2023-06-29/ |access-date=29 June 2023 |archive-date=30 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230630030231/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/france-150-arrests-overnight-unrest-after-teenager-killed-by-police-2023-06-29/ |url-status=live}}</ref> held a [[White March|white march]] led by mothers and activists in Nanterre demanding "justice for Nahel". The participants railed against what they perceived as a culture of police impunity and a failure to reform law enforcement in a country that has experienced waves of rioting and protests over police conduct.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiM4CwTuBrA |title=Nahel : Marche Blanche et Colelère noire |date=2023-06-30 |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=BLAST, Le souffle de l'info |publisher=youtube.com |archive-date=29 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729203223/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiM4CwTuBrA |url-status=live }}</ref> A few hours later, the officer implicated in the killing, was indicted for intentional homicide and remanded in custody.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Julien |last1=Lecot |first2=Ludovic |last2=Séré |first3=Stéphanie |last3=Maurice |first4=Théo |last4=Mouraby |url=https://www.liberation.fr/societe/apres-la-mort-de-nahel-la-france-en-voit-de-toutes-les-coleres-20230629_EG7I7TLZNNALXKQ62X3TJ6XSKM/ |title=Après la mort de Nahel, la France en voit de toutes les colères |date=2023-06-29 |access-date=2023-07-29 |website=Libération (in French). |archive-date=29 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729211617/https://www.liberation.fr/societe/apres-la-mort-de-nahel-la-france-en-voit-de-toutes-les-coleres-20230629_EG7I7TLZNNALXKQ62X3TJ6XSKM/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==

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* [[2007 Villiers-le-Bel riots]] following the deaths of Moushin S., 15, and Larami S., 16

* [[2009 French riots]] following the death of Mohamed Benmouna, 21

* [[2025 Paris Saint-Germain celebration riots]]

== Notes ==