5 police officers in custody in France for suspicious death of protester

By Nur Asena Erturk

Five police officers were taken into custody Tuesday in France for the suspicious death of a protester in Marseille, according to media reports.

Members of the special unit, Raid, were arrested in the death of 27-year-old Mohamed B. in early July, said the Le Figaro newspaper.

Other officers were summoned to testify, according to the Marseille prosecutor's office.

Mohamed B., a married father, fell ill and died when he was riding a scooter at night in the southern city on July 1 - 2.

An autopsy showed he had a suspicious mark on his chest, which could be from a police officer's flash ball.

Protests erupted in France on June 27 when a police officer fatally shot and killed Nahel M., 17, during a traffic check in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre. The shooting reportedly occurred after he ignored orders to stop.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France following Nahel's killing, including in Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. Incidents of looting reportedly took place during the demonstrations.​​​​​​​