As violent riots continue throughout France, Australian travellers are being warned of the threat of terrorism.
France has deployed more than 40,000 police officers to quell the unrest, which began after police shot and killed a teenage boy in suburban Paris during a traffic stop.
The officer involved in the shooting is under investigation for manslaughter, while police maintain he acted in self-defence despite video evidence to the contrary.
In response to the unrest, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has warned Australians to “exercise a high degree of caution in France due to the threat of terrorism”.
France is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, and is hosting the Tour De France until July 23.
An update on DFAT’s Smartraveller website said the riots had “turned violent, leading to destruction of property including vehicles, shops, police stations and schools”.
Australians are warned to be particularly vigilant at night and “avoid all demonstrations and areas with significant police activity”.
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DFAT said curfews had been introduced in some cities and public transport might be restricted or cancelled.
“The situation may change at short notice,” DFAT said.
Police shooting sparks unrest
Nahel Merzouk, 17, was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop just before 8am (local time) on July 27 in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre.
Police accounts of the shooting claim the officer allegedly fired on the teenager in self-defence because Mr Merzouk drove towards them in his vehicle.
Video footage shows that the car begins to roll forward with the police positioned by the driver’s side window, before an officer fires a single bullet.
Calls for calm ignored
French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the officer’s actions, but asked protesters to be peaceful.
Mr Merzouk’s grandmother echoed the sentiment, and said she wanted only to see the officer brought to justice.
In Nanterre, unrest began the same night as the shooting with rioters throwing projectiles at police, and setting cars and a music school on fire, resulting in 20 police officers being injured and 31 arrests.
Escalation of chaos
Riots and protests soon spread around Paris and other French cities including Amiens, Dijon, Lyon, Lille and Strasbourg, where police stations, town halls, schools and public buildings have been burned down.
One person died after falling off a building, and more than 500 police officers have been injured, 2400 people have been arrested, and 750 businesses and 4000 vehicles destroyed.
The unrest has spread to overseas territories such as French Guiana in South America, and other European countries. In Belgium, rioting resulted in dozens of arrests.
French mayors reported having their residences targeted with ram-raids, arson and attacks.
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Troubling record
The United Nations has called on France to address perceptions of systematic racism within its law enforcement agencies, something the powerful police union has rejected.
The conduct of French police during 2018’s ‘Yellow Vest’ protests for economic and political reform was heavily criticised after dozens of people were blinded by rubber bullets and hundreds received head injuries.
Tear gas was also deployed against rioters and multiple people lost hands and limbs.
In 2017, a law was introduced allowing police officers to shoot at a vehicle fleeing a traffic stop if officers believed nearby people were in danger.
According to French TV station Public Senat, this resulted in 13 deaths in 2022.
Mr Mazouk was the third person to have died during a traffic stop in 2023.
