“France is on fire and the president is going to the concert” “Unbearable noise”: Dubrovnik declares war on trolley suitcases

Protests against police brutality escalated after a police officer in France shot and killed a 17-year-old on Tuesday night. More than 600 arrests have already been made and some 40,000 officers have been deployed across the country. Amid the chaos, French President Emmanuel Macron apparently attended a concert by singer Elton John on Wednesday – drawing widespread criticism.

A video circulated on social media showing Macron and his wife Brigitte dancing to the music during an event. According to Britain’s Telegraph, the Elysée Palace has not confirmed Wednesday’s footage – but a photo of John’s partner David Furnish fuels suspicions that the president and his wife were actually at the concert.

Furnish posted a photo of himself, Elton John and the Macrons on Instagram on Thursday. “Backstage in Paris”, he wrote. Numerous negative comments gathered under the post. “France is on fire and the president is going to Elton John’s concert,” it read. “Wrong time,” another user commented. Singer Elton John gave a total of three concerts in Paris: on June 21, 27 and 28.

17-year-old Nahel M. was shot dead in the driver’s seat of a car on Tuesday during a traffic control in the Parisian suburb of Nanterre. Video showed the police officer pointing his gun at the driver and firing at close range as the car suddenly accelerated.

Protests then broke out, including looting, burning cars and destruction (read more about the riots here). Macron’s alleged concert visit took place a day after the teenager’s death.

(t-online, lw)