Is this violent video a clash between migrants and locals in France? Know the truth.

Recently, a video of a clash between groups of people went viral on social media. We can see mobs thrashing each other with sticks in the streets. Social media users are claiming that this clash took place in France where locals are fighting with the migrants. 

However, fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. Although the video is from France, the incident took place after a teenager was shot by police. This incident is not about violence against migrants. 

What’s the Claim? 

Sharing the video, social media users are claiming that, “In Angers, in western France, locals are fighting back against migrants looting shops and businesses.”

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We also found that few Indian users praised and encouraged this violence. 

Fact Check- 

A Google Reverse Image Search on a key frame of the viral video led us to a website on which an image from the viral video was published on 1 July 2023. According to the report, this violence started after a teenager was shot by police in France on 27 June. Locals took out a protest in support of the demised and set vehicles and public buildings on fire. Seeing this huge protest and violence, night curfews were imposed in many cities of the country. 

This violence was aggravated after supporters of far-right politicians Marine Le Pen, started lynching the protestors with sticks and baseball bats. Police also detained more than 2000 protestors. Public transport was suspended in Paris and nearby areas at night. 

The details of the same incident can also be read here and here.

According to a report by CNN, the outrage and protest started after a French teenage boy named Nahel Merzoukwas shot by police in the suburb of Paris. Police detained many people during the nationwide protest over the death of the boy. The boy’s mother blamed the police officer who shot her son. In this violent protest, 1,311 people were detained, 2,560 fires were reported on the streets, 1,350 cars were burned and 234 buildings were damaged. 

The officer said he shot the boy out of fear that he might have run over someone with his car. An investigation is going on against the officer. The top officials requested people to have patience for justice but mob across France took to the streets to protest against the incident. 

Below you can see the footage of the incident when the French police shot the boy in the car. 

Conclusion: 

Fact Crescendo found the claim to be false. This is not a video of violence after the migrants started robbing the stores in France. This incident took place during a protest after a France police officer shot a teenage boy. This is not a video of a clash between locals and migrants.