PARIS, 25 Dec 2022:
Protests over the killing of three Kurdish people in central Paris turned violent yesterday.
Several thousand people gathered for a march in the central Place de la Republique, which is located near the crime scene – where a 69-year-old French national opened fire outside a Kurdish community centre on Friday, killing three and injuring three before he was arrested.
The protest, which involved participants waving the flag of the PKK Kurdish militant group, classed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey and the EU, was largely peaceful.
But breakaway groups clashed with the police and torched cars in nearby streets, despite protest organisers and monitors attempting to defuse the situation.
Police officers used to tear gas in a bid to disperse the crowds.
The man behind the shooting on Friday had apparent racist intentions, authorities have told French media.
He had recently been released from custody pending trial for charges relating to a sword attack against migrant tents in December 2021.
– EFE