Nearly 1,000 arrests as French cities burn and police brand rioters ‘vermin’ ahead of funeral for teen ‘executed’ by cop

RIOTING has continued across France for a fourth night as family and friends prepare to bury the 17-year-old whose killing by police sparked the unrest. And more mayhem is expected early today at the funeral of Nahel Merzouk – the driver whose police shooting at the wheel of his car triggered nationwide strife. ReutersThe shells of burnt cars sit in the suburb of Nanterre, where Nahel was killed[/caption] Footage shows the moment a French cop opened fire on Nahel EPAEmmanuel Macron has held two meetings of France’s equivalent to COBRA[/caption] GettyMore than 1,000 have been arrested yesterday and this morning alone[/caption] Nearly 1,000 protesters were arrested last night and 79 officers have been injured, though the French government has suggested the violence is beginning to lessen. Thousands of mourners are expected to throng the Muslim rites for the French Algerian youth said to have been “executed” by a single shot on Tuesday. The officer responsible – identified as Florian, 38 – remains on remand having been charged with murder. The north-western Paris suburb of Nanterre is expected to be the flash point of continuing strife at Nahel’s funeral this morning. Thousands are expected to turn up at the funeral of Nahel, who lived with his mother, Mounia, on a council estate in Nanterre. Her lawyers have accused the policeman responsible for the death of her son of ‘cold blooded murder’. The grieving mum said: “He was my lovely baby. They took away my heart.” Nahel was from a French Algerian background, and protesters have said the teenager’s death exemplifies the discrimination that such ethnic minorities suffer.  Two of France’s top police unions wrote in a damning statement: “Faced with these savage hordes, calling for calm is no longer sufficient, it must be imposed!” They went on to say the police are waging a war against “vermin”, and threatened a revolt. It comes as President Emmanuel Macron chaired the French equivalent of a COBRA meeting — the second in two days — on Friday, as he attempted to deal with the national crisis.  Afterwards, he said he was prepared to do “anything possible to restore public order.” Macron has been slammed for going to an Elton John concert a day after Nahel’s death – a move heavily criticised by France’s political parties, as he’s neglected to impose a state of emergency. Thierry Mariani, of the National Rally, said: “While France was on fire, Macron was not at the side of his minister of the interior or the police, but he preferred to applaud Elton John.” Armed cops and other security forces have dispersed across the country with 45,000 officers deployed, backed by light armoured vehicles. Last night alone, nearly 1,000 rioters were arrested, as Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said: “It’s France that is going to win, not the rioters.” Darmanin ordered a nationwide nighttime shutdown Friday of all public buses and trams, which have been among rioters targets. He also said he warned social networks not to allow themselves to be used as channels for calls to violence. France’s national soccer team – along with international star Kylian Mbappe – pleaded with the protesters for a peaceful solution. Mbappe shared on Twitter: “Many of us are from working-class neighbourhoods, we too share this feeling of pain and sadness over the killing of 17-year-old Nahel. “Violence resolves nothing. There are other peaceful and constructive ways to express yourself.” Rioters were seen breaking into shops and other businesses last night, in multiple cities. The cities of Lyon, Grenoble and Marseille were badly hit, as looters got away with an estimated hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of goods.  Looters broke into a gun shop and made off with weapons in the Mediterranean port city of Marseille last night, according to police. The French government announced this weekend that all major public gatherings that could “pose a risk to public order”, including rock concerts and sports events, will be banned.  Thirteen people who didn’t comply with traffic stops were fatally shot by French police last year. This year, another three people, including Nahel, died under similar circumstances, prompting demands for more accountability in France. This weeks protests echoed the three weeks of rioting in 2005 that followed the deaths of 15-year-old Bouna Traor and 17-year-old Zyed Benna, who were electrocuted while hiding from police in a power substation in Clichy-sous-Bois. British holidaymakers have now been advised by the government to avoid France as the country imposed curfews and traffic shutdowns to try and quell nationwide rioting. The Foreign Office on Friday updated its travel advice as a response to the violence, saying: “Since 27 June, riots have taken place across France. “Some local authorities may impose curfews. Locations and timing of riots are unpredictable.” GettyTear gas has been thrown in attempts to disperse the riots[/caption] Firefighters have been working to extinguish blazes set by protestersRex AFPFrench Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has urged calm[/caption] ReutersNahel’s death has sparked calls for change within France’s police force[/caption] APRiot police have been deployed across the nation[/caption] APProtesters have blocked off roads with garbage bins[/caption] ReutersMore than 45,000 officers have been deployed to help the unrest[/caption] Marches have been held across the nationRex