US EditionA French police officer will stand trial over the killing of a teen that sparked nationwide riots
- A French police officer, Florian M., is to go on trial for the murder of 17-year-old Nahel M. In June 2023 in Nanterre, a Paris suburb.
- The trial follows a two-year investigation triggered by mobile footage that contradicted police claims and showed the officer shooting Nahel during a traffic stop.
- Nahel's killing sparked nationwide protests that turned violent, leading to looting, arson, thousands of arrests, and heightened tensions over racism and security in France.
- The officer's lawyer called the trial decision "disappointing and not surprising," while Nahel's family's lawyer expressed "satisfaction" and said, "We are just seeing the law being applied."
- The trial is anticipated to occur sometime between April and September of 2026 and highlights ongoing issues related to discrimination, unemployment, and social unrest within marginalized communities in France.
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95 Articles
French police officer to face trial over teen’s killing that ignited 2023 riots
PARIS, June 4 — A French policeman who shot and killed a teenager at point-blank range in 2023 in a Paris suburb, sparking days of riots, is to go on trial charged with murder, a court said Tuesday. The trial of the officer, who has been charged with the murder of Nahel Merzouk, 17, could take place in the second or third quarter of 2026, the court in the Nanterre suburb, where the killing took place, said in a joint statement with investigating…
French Officer to Stand Trial for Teen's Death - teleSUR English
The shooting sparked a wave of unrest across France in 2023, particularly in suburban areas of major cities. On Tuesday, the Nanterre Municipal Court ruled that police officer Florian M., who fatally shot teenager Nahel Merzouk, will stand trial for murder. RELATED: France Strengthens Security Around All Mosques After Islamophobic Assassination The judges concluded the investigative proceedings with a decision to send the officer to the Criminal…
Officers claimed he intentionally drove towards them to injure them, but video of the incident refuted their claims.
A tragic event. In June 2023, 17-year-old Nahel was shot dead by a police officer during a road check. On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, according to information from BFM TV, the Nanterre court and the city prosecutor indicate that the police officer who fired the gun will be tried for murder.
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