French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that the country witnessed a quieter night of protests following the funeral of Nahel M, 17.
Darmanin stated that 719 people were arrested, which is lower compared to previous nights with the worst clashes in the southern city of Marseille.
The minister posted a tweet, praising the law enforcement for their “resolute action” which had led to a “calmer night”.
Meanwhile, officials hope that a turning point may have been reached and rioters will lose energy thanks to the security crackdown and the massive unpopularity of their exactions.
Nahel’s funeral service was held at the mosque in Nanterre earlier on Saturday. He was shot by police after refusing to stop for a traffic check and died after emergency services attended the scene.
On his part, President Emmanuel Macron denounced the violence “with the greatest firmness” and highlighted that Nahel’s death had been used to justify acts of violence – calling it an “unacceptable exploitation of the adolescent’s death”.
