Unrest in France persists for the fifth day following the tragic police killing of a teenager. French Interior Ministry released a provisional statement stating that 719 arrests were made overnight, marking a decrease from the 1,300 arrests recorded on Friday night. As the situation unfolded, the neighboring countries of Switzerland and Belgium are also experiencing echoes of the violence witnessed in France.

On 1^st July the Swiss city of Lausanne, several shop windows were shattered as law enforcement officers dispersed groups of youths who hurled stones and even a Molotov cocktail at them, as confirmed by the police. Meanwhile, in the Belgian capital of Brussels on 29^th of June approximately a dozen individuals were detained, and authorities managed to bring several fires under control.

The escalating unrest in France resulted in the postponement of French President Emmanuel Macron's scheduled state visit to Germany, which was set to commence on Sunday. Macron reportedly spoke with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier over the phone on Saturday, briefing him on the situation unfolding in France, as reported by a spokesperson for the German president.

In the midst of the events, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin took to Twitter to share that the night had been relatively calmer compared to previous nights, attributing it to the resolute action taken by the security forces. Simultaneously, family members and friends of Nahel Merzouk, the teenager whose fatal shooting by the police ignited the protests, gathered on Saturday for his funeral in the Paris suburb where he tragically lost his life. A crowd congregated outside the mosque where the ceremony took place, reflecting the significance of the event to the local community.

In France, social media companies are facing increased scrutiny as President Emmanuel Macron holds platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and others responsible for exacerbating widespread riots following the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old driver.

President Emmanuel Macron has leveled accusations against social media platforms, asserting that they have played a significant role in fueling acts of violence by encouraging copycat behavior. These allegations come amidst the backdrop of ongoing protests that have brought to the fore longstanding tensions between the police and young people in France. Macron's statements shed light on the perceived influence of social media in intensifying the unrest and exacerbating the already volatile situation in the country.

In addition to criticizing video games for their influence on the riots, Macron announced that the French government would collaborate with social media sites to remove "the most sensitive content" and identify users who engage in "incitement to disorder or aggravate violence." The government aims to address the situation by taking concrete measures in cooperation with these platforms.

Image source: The Indian Express