Kurdish Protesters Clash with Police after Paris Shooting

 

Kurdish demonstrators clashed with police in central Paris on Friday after a 69-year-old gunman opened fire at a Kurdish cultural centre and a hairdressing salon, killing three people and injuring three others.

Police deployed outside the cultural centre used teargas to attack the protesters who tried to break through a police cordon protecting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin who had arrived at the scene.

Demonstrators threw objects at police in response, set rubbish bins on fire and erected barricades.

Several cars parked in the area as well as police vehicles had their windows smashed as protesters threw bricks.

Some demonstrators were chanting slogans in support of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

“Martyrs don’t die,” some shouted.

Earlier, several demonstrators had tried to get past police to reach the cultural centre.

The centre, called Centre Ahmet Kaya, is used by a charity that organises concerts and exhibitions, and helps the Kurdish diaspora in the Paris region.

The attacker, a far right retired train driver was clearly targeting foreigners.