Suspect in ‘racist’ Paris shooting transferred to psychiatric unit, as Kurdish protesters clash with police
The 69-year-old white man had been found with a case loaded with a box of at least 25 cartridges and ‘two or three loaded magazines’
The shooting has revived the trauma of three unresolved murders of Kurds in 2013 that many blame on Turkey
Agence France-Presse
Published: 24 Dec, 2022
Supporters and members of the Kurdish community hold portraits of victims Emine Kara and Mir Perwer during a demonstration at The Place de la Republique in Paris on Saturday. Photo: AFP
A French man suspected of killing three people in a “racist” attack at a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris has been transferred to a psychiatric unit, prosecutors said, as police and demonstrators clashed in the French capital.
Prosecutors said the 69-year-old white suspect had been removed from custody for health reasons on Saturday and taken to a police psychiatric facility.
The shots at the cultural centre and a nearby hairdressing salon on Friday sparked panic in the city’s bustling 10th district, home to several shops and restaurants and a large Kurdish population.
Three others were wounded in the attack that the suspect told investigators was attributable to his being “racist”, a source close to the case said.
Shooting at Paris Kurdish cultural centre kills 3, protesters clash with police
The Paris prosecutor said a doctor examined the suspect’s health on Saturday afternoon and deemed it “not compatible with the measure of custody”.
The man’s custody was lifted and he was taken to a police psychiatric unit pending an appearance before an investigation judge as the probe continues, the prosecutor added.
The shooting has revived the trauma of three unresolved murders of Kurds in 2013 that many blame on Turkey.
Many in the Kurdish community have expressed anger at the French security services, saying they had done too little to prevent the shooting.
The frustration boiled over on Saturday and furious demonstrators clashed with police in central Paris for the second day running after a tribute rally
The capital’s police chief Laurent Nunez told BFM television channel 31 officers and one protester were injured in the disturbances, while 11 people were arrested, “mainly for damage”.
Earlier on Saturday, the Paris prosecutor had extended the suspect’s period of detention for 24 hours and gave an extra charge of acting with a “racist motive”.
He was already being held on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, armed violence and violating weapons legislation.
Demonstrators throw objects during a protest on Saturday against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture centre in Paris. Photo: AP
French President Emmanuel Macron has said Kurds in France were “the target of an odious attack” and ordered Nunez to meet leaders of the Kurdish community on Saturday.
The suspect, who has a history of racist violence, initially targeted the Kurdish cultural centre before entering a hairdressing salon where he was arrested.
He was found with a case loaded with a box of at least 25 cartridges and “two or three loaded magazines”, the source close to the case said. The weapon was a “much-used” US Army Colt 1911 pistol.
Of the three wounded people, one was being given intensive care in hospital and two were treated for serious injuries. According to the Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDK-F), the dead included one woman and two men.
Emine Kara was a leader of the Kurdish Women’s Movement in France, the organisation’s spokesman Agit Polat said. Her claim for political asylum in France had been rejected.
The other victims were Abdulrahman Kizil and Mir Perwer, a political refugee and artist, according to the CDK-F. A police source confirmed Kara and Kizil were among the victims.
Thousands of Kurds gathered at Place de la Republique in central Paris on Saturday afternoon where they held a minute of silence for the three killed and those “who died for freedom”.
“What we feel is pain and disbelief because this is not the first time this has happened,” 23-year-old student Esra said.
Candles and a picture of Emine Kara, one of the victims of a shooting the previous day, are seen in front of the Kurdistan democratic centre in Paris on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Police fired tear gas after clashes erupted and the demonstrators threw projectiles at officers. AFP journalists at the scene said at least four cars were overturned and one burnt.
Over 1,000 people held a similar peaceful rally in the southern port city of Marseille but it ended in clashes with officers and at least two police cars were set on fire.
Three Kurdish women activists were killed in 2013 in the same area of Paris and the victims’ families have long pointed the finger at Turkey for masterminding the deaths.
Despite the suspicions, there appears to be no evidence that Friday’s shooting had political motives or was linked to Turkey.
Erdogan threatens to ‘crush’ Kurdish forces if they do not withdraw
19 Oct 2019
Within hours of the attack, security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters trying to break through a police cordon deployed to protect Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who had arrived at the scene.
Darmanin had said Friday that while the attacker “was clearly targeting foreigners”, it was “not certain” the man was aiming to kill “Kurds in particular”.
The suspect – named as William M. by French media – is a gun enthusiast with a history of weapons offences who had been released on bail earlier this month.
The retired train driver was convicted for armed violence in 2016 by a court in the multicultural Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, but appealed.
A protester holds a Kurdish workers party (PKK) flag during a demonstration at The Place de la Republique in Paris on Saturday. Photo: AFP
A year later he was convicted for illegally possessing a firearm.
Last year, he was charged with racist violence after allegedly stabbing migrants and slashing their tents with a sword in a park in eastern Paris.
“He is crazy, he’s an idiot,” his father was quoted as saying by the M6 television channel.
Often described as the world’s largest people without a state, the Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
The 69-year-old white man had been found with a case loaded with a box of at least 25 cartridges and ‘two or three loaded magazines’
The shooting has revived the trauma of three unresolved murders of Kurds in 2013 that many blame on Turkey
Agence France-Presse
Published: 24 Dec, 2022
Supporters and members of the Kurdish community hold portraits of victims Emine Kara and Mir Perwer during a demonstration at The Place de la Republique in Paris on Saturday.
Photo: AFP
A French man suspected of killing three people in a “racist” attack at a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris has been transferred to a psychiatric unit, prosecutors said, as police and demonstrators clashed in the French capital.
Prosecutors said the 69-year-old white suspect had been removed from custody for health reasons on Saturday and taken to a police psychiatric facility.
The shots at the cultural centre and a nearby hairdressing salon on Friday sparked panic in the city’s bustling 10th district, home to several shops and restaurants and a large Kurdish population.
Three others were wounded in the attack that the suspect told investigators was attributable to his being “racist”, a source close to the case said.
Shooting at Paris Kurdish cultural centre kills 3, protesters clash with police
The Paris prosecutor said a doctor examined the suspect’s health on Saturday afternoon and deemed it “not compatible with the measure of custody”.
The man’s custody was lifted and he was taken to a police psychiatric unit pending an appearance before an investigation judge as the probe continues, the prosecutor added.
The shooting has revived the trauma of three unresolved murders of Kurds in 2013 that many blame on Turkey.
Many in the Kurdish community have expressed anger at the French security services, saying they had done too little to prevent the shooting.
A French man suspected of killing three people in a “racist” attack at a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris has been transferred to a psychiatric unit, prosecutors said, as police and demonstrators clashed in the French capital.
Prosecutors said the 69-year-old white suspect had been removed from custody for health reasons on Saturday and taken to a police psychiatric facility.
The shots at the cultural centre and a nearby hairdressing salon on Friday sparked panic in the city’s bustling 10th district, home to several shops and restaurants and a large Kurdish population.
Three others were wounded in the attack that the suspect told investigators was attributable to his being “racist”, a source close to the case said.
Shooting at Paris Kurdish cultural centre kills 3, protesters clash with police
The Paris prosecutor said a doctor examined the suspect’s health on Saturday afternoon and deemed it “not compatible with the measure of custody”.
The man’s custody was lifted and he was taken to a police psychiatric unit pending an appearance before an investigation judge as the probe continues, the prosecutor added.
The shooting has revived the trauma of three unresolved murders of Kurds in 2013 that many blame on Turkey.
Many in the Kurdish community have expressed anger at the French security services, saying they had done too little to prevent the shooting.
The frustration boiled over on Saturday and furious demonstrators clashed with police in central Paris for the second day running after a tribute rally
The capital’s police chief Laurent Nunez told BFM television channel 31 officers and one protester were injured in the disturbances, while 11 people were arrested, “mainly for damage”.
The capital’s police chief Laurent Nunez told BFM television channel 31 officers and one protester were injured in the disturbances, while 11 people were arrested, “mainly for damage”.
Earlier on Saturday, the Paris prosecutor had extended the suspect’s period of detention for 24 hours and gave an extra charge of acting with a “racist motive”.
He was already being held on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, armed violence and violating weapons legislation.
Demonstrators throw objects during a protest on Saturday against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture centre in Paris. Photo: AP
French President Emmanuel Macron has said Kurds in France were “the target of an odious attack” and ordered Nunez to meet leaders of the Kurdish community on Saturday.
The suspect, who has a history of racist violence, initially targeted the Kurdish cultural centre before entering a hairdressing salon where he was arrested.
He was found with a case loaded with a box of at least 25 cartridges and “two or three loaded magazines”, the source close to the case said. The weapon was a “much-used” US Army Colt 1911 pistol.
Of the three wounded people, one was being given intensive care in hospital and two were treated for serious injuries. According to the Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDK-F), the dead included one woman and two men.
Emine Kara was a leader of the Kurdish Women’s Movement in France, the organisation’s spokesman Agit Polat said. Her claim for political asylum in France had been rejected.
The other victims were Abdulrahman Kizil and Mir Perwer, a political refugee and artist, according to the CDK-F. A police source confirmed Kara and Kizil were among the victims.
The other victims were Abdulrahman Kizil and Mir Perwer, a political refugee and artist, according to the CDK-F. A police source confirmed Kara and Kizil were among the victims.
Thousands of Kurds gathered at Place de la Republique in central Paris on Saturday afternoon where they held a minute of silence for the three killed and those “who died for freedom”.
“What we feel is pain and disbelief because this is not the first time this has happened,” 23-year-old student Esra said.
Candles and a picture of Emine Kara, one of the victims of a shooting the previous day, are seen in front of the Kurdistan democratic centre in Paris on Saturday. Photo: AFP
Police fired tear gas after clashes erupted and the demonstrators threw projectiles at officers. AFP journalists at the scene said at least four cars were overturned and one burnt.
Over 1,000 people held a similar peaceful rally in the southern port city of Marseille but it ended in clashes with officers and at least two police cars were set on fire.
Three Kurdish women activists were killed in 2013 in the same area of Paris and the victims’ families have long pointed the finger at Turkey for masterminding the deaths.
Despite the suspicions, there appears to be no evidence that Friday’s shooting had political motives or was linked to Turkey.
Erdogan threatens to ‘crush’ Kurdish forces if they do not withdraw
19 Oct 2019
Within hours of the attack, security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters trying to break through a police cordon deployed to protect Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who had arrived at the scene.
19 Oct 2019
Within hours of the attack, security forces fired tear gas to disperse protesters trying to break through a police cordon deployed to protect Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who had arrived at the scene.
Darmanin had said Friday that while the attacker “was clearly targeting foreigners”, it was “not certain” the man was aiming to kill “Kurds in particular”.
The suspect – named as William M. by French media – is a gun enthusiast with a history of weapons offences who had been released on bail earlier this month.
The retired train driver was convicted for armed violence in 2016 by a court in the multicultural Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, but appealed.
A protester holds a Kurdish workers party (PKK) flag during a demonstration at The Place de la Republique in Paris on Saturday. Photo: AFP
A year later he was convicted for illegally possessing a firearm.
Last year, he was charged with racist violence after allegedly stabbing migrants and slashing their tents with a sword in a park in eastern Paris.
“He is crazy, he’s an idiot,” his father was quoted as saying by the M6 television channel.
Often described as the world’s largest people without a state, the Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
Paris shooter who killed three admits being 'racist'
French security personnel secure the street after several shots were fired along rue d'Enghien in the 10th arrondissement, in Paris on December 23, 2022. - Two people were killed and four injured in a shooting in central Paris on December 23, 2022, police and prosecutors said, adding that the shooter, in his 60s, had been arrested. The motives of the gunman remain unclear, with two of the four injured left in a serious condition, the French officials said. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP)
Agence France-Presse (AFP)/AFP
The shots at the centre and a nearby hairdressing salon shortly before midday on Friday caused panic in the trendy 10th district of the French capital, a bustling area of shops and restaurants that is home to a large Kurdish population
December 24, 2022
A 69-year-old white French gunman who opened fire at a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris killing three people told investigators he was racist, a source close to the case said Saturday.
The shots at the centre and a nearby hairdressing salon shortly before midday on Friday caused panic in the trendy 10th district of the French capital, a bustling area of shops and restaurants that is home to a large Kurdish population.
Three others were wounded in the attack that the gunman attributed to his being "racist", the source said.
He was found with a case loaded with a box of at least 25 cartridges and "two or three loaded magazines", the source added.
The weapon was a "much-used" US Army Colt 1911 pistol.
French President Emmanuel Macron said "the Kurds in France have been the target of an odious attack in the heart of Paris" and ordered the Paris police chief to meet with leaders of the Kurdish community on Saturday.
The gunman, who has a history of racist violence, initially targeted the Kurdish cultural centre before entering a hairdressing salon where he was arrested.
Of the three wounded people, one was being given intensive care in hospital and two were treated for serious injuries.
According to the Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDK-F), the dead inculded one woman and two men.
Emine Kara was a leader of the Kurdish Women's Movement in France, the organisation's spokesman Agit Polat said. Her claim for political asylum in France had been rejected.
The other victims were Abdulrahman Kizil and Mir Perwer, a political refugee and artist, according to the CDK-F.
A police source confirmed that Kara and Kizil were among the victims.
Fury in Paris
'He is crazy'
The Kurdish community 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 Kurdish community is due to hold a demonstration in Paris on Saturday afternoon.
Within hours of the attack, Kurdish protesters clashed with police, who used tear gas in an attempt to disperse them as they tried to break through a police cordon deployed to protect Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, who had arrived at the scene.
Demonstrators threw objects at police while voicing fury over an attack they saw as deliberate, and which they said French security services had done too little to prevent.
Several cars parked in the area as well as police vehicles had their windows smashed as protesters threw bricks.
The shooter -- named as William M. in the French media -- is a gun enthusiast with a history of weapons offences who had been released on bail earlier this month.
The retired train driver was convicted for armed violence in 2016 by a court in the multicultural Seine-Saint-Denis suburb of Paris, but appealed.
A year later he was convicted for illegally possessing a firearm.
Last year, he was charged with racist violence after allegedly stabbing migrants and slashing their tents with a sword in a park in eastern Paris.
"He is crazy, he's an idiot," his father was quoted as saying by the M6 television channel.
Often described as the world's largest people without a state, the Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
Deadly attack on Kurds in Paris revives trauma of unsolved 2013 murder
Mourners gather outside the Kurdish community centre that was targeted on Friday in central Paris, holding flags with pictures of the three Kurdish activists who were murdered nearby in 2013. © Benjamin Dodman, FRANCE 24
In January 2013, three activists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), including one of the group's founders, were shot dead at a nearby Kurdish centre in what resembled a targeted attack.
A Turkish man was charged with the suspected assassinations afterwards, but he died in custody in 2016 before being tried.
The victims' families have long pointed the finger at Turkey for masterminding the deaths of the three women, who were shot in the head, mouth and neck, and at France for failing to investigate properly.
"You aren't protecting us. We're being killed!" a young man shouted at police as he wept in the street, a few steps away from the Kurdish centre.
Community leaders said Friday's victims included Emine Kara, a senior representative of the Kurdish women's movement in France, who had taken part in fighting against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.
Racist violence?
French authorities have been extremely cautious about suggesting a motive for the latest killings, with early suspicions pointing to a racially-motivated attack.
The suspected gunman is a 69-year-old French retired train driver with a history of violence against foreigners. Sources close to the investigation said he told investigators he acted out of "racism".
In December last year, the suspect was charged with attacking migrants living in tents in eastern Paris with a sword, injuring at least two of them. He had recently been released pending a hearing in the case.
The man "was clearly targeting foreigners", Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told reporters, while adding it was "not certain" that he was aiming to kill "Kurds in particular".
"We don't yet know his exact motives," the minister added.
Kurds gathered at the scene, however, said their community had been specifically targeted – and not for the first time.
"There's all sorts of people in this neighbourhood but he only attacked Kurds," said Hilal, a 26-year-old caterer, referring to one of the most cosmopolitan areas of Paris.
"I never imagined people would come after us in France," she added. "Now we feel vulnerable and rejected as Kurds, it's not acceptable in a country like this."
'We don't even have a state of our own'
Some demonstrators could be heard chanting slogans on Friday in support of the PKK, a Kurdish organisation designated as terrorist by Ankara, the European Union and others.
The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, initially in support of an independent Kurdish state and latterly for greater Kurdish autonomy within Turkey.
Often described as the world's largest people without a state, the Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
Turkey launches regular military operations against the PKK as well as Kurdish groups it accuses of being allies in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.
More recently, Kurdish areas in Iran have borne the brunt of the Islamic Republic's deadly crackdown on protests.
The Kurdish Democratic Council of France, an umbrella Kurdish group headquartered in the cultural centre targeted on Friday, pointed the finger at Turkey during a press conference after the shooting.
"For us there is no doubt that it is a terror attack which has occurred just before the 10th anniversary of the triple murders of three Kurdish activists in Paris," said senior member Agit Polat.
"We don't even have a state of our own, why are people attacking us?" asked Pierre Oguz, the owner of a nearby Kurdish restaurant famed for its lahmacun sandwiches.
"It's a little planet here, all communities live together in peace," he added. "We never thought this would happen but now we're scared."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Violence erupts at Kurdish protest over Paris shooting
Text by:FRANCE 24
Issued on: 24/12/2022 -
Clashes broke out for a second day in Paris on Saturday between police and Kurdish protestors angry at the killing of three members of their community.
Cars were overturned, at least one vehicle was burned, shop windows were damaged and small fires set alight near Place de la République, a traditional venue for demonstrations where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said there had been a sudden violent turn in the protest but it was not yet clear why.
Speaking on news channel BFM TV, Nunez said a few dozen protestors were responsible for the violence, adding there had been 11 arrests and around 30 minor injuries.
As some demonstrators left the square they threw projectiles at police who responded with tear gas. Skirmishes continued for around two hours before the protestors dispersed.
A gunman carried out the killings at a Kurdish cultural centre and nearby cafe on Friday in a busy part of Paris' 10th district, stunning a community preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unresolved murder of three activists.
Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a sabre attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.
Following questioning of the suspect, investigators had added a suspected racist motive to initial accusations of murder and violence with weapons, the prosecutor's office said on Saturday.
The suspect's custody was subsequently lifted for health reasons and he was taken to a police psychiatric unit, according to the prosecutor.
"The doctor who examined the suspect today in the late afternoon said that the state of health of the person concerned was not compatible with the measure of custody," the Paris prosecutor said.
"The custody measure has therefore been lifted pending his presentation before an investigating judge when his state of health allows," it said, adding that investigations were continuing.
A member of the Kurdish community stands on top of a car during clashes with police officers near the scene of Friday's deadly shooting in central Paris. © Lewis Joly, AP
Text by: FRANCE 24
Issued on: 24/12/2022
Furious Kurdish demonstrators clashed with police in central Paris on Friday after three people were shot dead in a suspected racist attack on a community centre that revived the trauma of three unsolved murders many blame on Turkey.
Paris police said they were investigating a possible racist motive after a lone gunman targeted the Kurdish cultural centre in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, shooting dead three members of the local community and injuring several more.
Clashes later broke out between police and an angry crowd that had gathered at the scene in the aftermath of the attack. Some protesters could be seen throwing objects at police and setting rubbish bins on fire.
The Kurdish community was left incensed by the attack, with many – without evidence at this stage – again pointing the finger at Turkey. They also accused French authorities of not doing enough to protect them.
"There are Kurds everywhere in Europe but only in France do we get killed," said a young Kurdish student who, like many others in the crowd, declined to give her name, reflecting the sense of fear that has gripped the community.
"We can't believe it's starting again," added her cousin, who rushed to the scene from her Paris suburb after hearing of the attack.
Both were referring to the notorious triple murders of three Kurdish women activists almost 10 years ago in the same area of Paris that deeply shook the Kurdish diaspora in France.
Issued on: 24/12/2022
Furious Kurdish demonstrators clashed with police in central Paris on Friday after three people were shot dead in a suspected racist attack on a community centre that revived the trauma of three unsolved murders many blame on Turkey.
Paris police said they were investigating a possible racist motive after a lone gunman targeted the Kurdish cultural centre in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, shooting dead three members of the local community and injuring several more.
Clashes later broke out between police and an angry crowd that had gathered at the scene in the aftermath of the attack. Some protesters could be seen throwing objects at police and setting rubbish bins on fire.
The Kurdish community was left incensed by the attack, with many – without evidence at this stage – again pointing the finger at Turkey. They also accused French authorities of not doing enough to protect them.
"There are Kurds everywhere in Europe but only in France do we get killed," said a young Kurdish student who, like many others in the crowd, declined to give her name, reflecting the sense of fear that has gripped the community.
"We can't believe it's starting again," added her cousin, who rushed to the scene from her Paris suburb after hearing of the attack.
Both were referring to the notorious triple murders of three Kurdish women activists almost 10 years ago in the same area of Paris that deeply shook the Kurdish diaspora in France.
Mourners gather outside the Kurdish community centre that was targeted on Friday in central Paris, holding flags with pictures of the three Kurdish activists who were murdered nearby in 2013. © Benjamin Dodman, FRANCE 24
In January 2013, three activists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), including one of the group's founders, were shot dead at a nearby Kurdish centre in what resembled a targeted attack.
A Turkish man was charged with the suspected assassinations afterwards, but he died in custody in 2016 before being tried.
The victims' families have long pointed the finger at Turkey for masterminding the deaths of the three women, who were shot in the head, mouth and neck, and at France for failing to investigate properly.
"You aren't protecting us. We're being killed!" a young man shouted at police as he wept in the street, a few steps away from the Kurdish centre.
Community leaders said Friday's victims included Emine Kara, a senior representative of the Kurdish women's movement in France, who had taken part in fighting against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria.
Racist violence?
French authorities have been extremely cautious about suggesting a motive for the latest killings, with early suspicions pointing to a racially-motivated attack.
The suspected gunman is a 69-year-old French retired train driver with a history of violence against foreigners. Sources close to the investigation said he told investigators he acted out of "racism".
In December last year, the suspect was charged with attacking migrants living in tents in eastern Paris with a sword, injuring at least two of them. He had recently been released pending a hearing in the case.
The man "was clearly targeting foreigners", Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told reporters, while adding it was "not certain" that he was aiming to kill "Kurds in particular".
"We don't yet know his exact motives," the minister added.
Kurds gathered at the scene, however, said their community had been specifically targeted – and not for the first time.
"There's all sorts of people in this neighbourhood but he only attacked Kurds," said Hilal, a 26-year-old caterer, referring to one of the most cosmopolitan areas of Paris.
"I never imagined people would come after us in France," she added. "Now we feel vulnerable and rejected as Kurds, it's not acceptable in a country like this."
'We don't even have a state of our own'
Some demonstrators could be heard chanting slogans on Friday in support of the PKK, a Kurdish organisation designated as terrorist by Ankara, the European Union and others.
The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, initially in support of an independent Kurdish state and latterly for greater Kurdish autonomy within Turkey.
Often described as the world's largest people without a state, the Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
Turkey launches regular military operations against the PKK as well as Kurdish groups it accuses of being allies in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.
More recently, Kurdish areas in Iran have borne the brunt of the Islamic Republic's deadly crackdown on protests.
The Kurdish Democratic Council of France, an umbrella Kurdish group headquartered in the cultural centre targeted on Friday, pointed the finger at Turkey during a press conference after the shooting.
"For us there is no doubt that it is a terror attack which has occurred just before the 10th anniversary of the triple murders of three Kurdish activists in Paris," said senior member Agit Polat.
"We don't even have a state of our own, why are people attacking us?" asked Pierre Oguz, the owner of a nearby Kurdish restaurant famed for its lahmacun sandwiches.
"It's a little planet here, all communities live together in peace," he added. "We never thought this would happen but now we're scared."
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
01:16
Protesters stand behind flames during clashes following a demonstration of members of the Kurdish community, a day after a gunman opened fire at a Kurdish cultural centre killing three people, at Place de la République in Paris on December 24, 2022. © Julien De Rosa, AFP
Text by:FRANCE 24
Issued on: 24/12/2022 -
Clashes broke out for a second day in Paris on Saturday between police and Kurdish protestors angry at the killing of three members of their community.
Cars were overturned, at least one vehicle was burned, shop windows were damaged and small fires set alight near Place de la République, a traditional venue for demonstrations where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest.
Paris police chief Laurent Nunez said there had been a sudden violent turn in the protest but it was not yet clear why.
Speaking on news channel BFM TV, Nunez said a few dozen protestors were responsible for the violence, adding there had been 11 arrests and around 30 minor injuries.
As some demonstrators left the square they threw projectiles at police who responded with tear gas. Skirmishes continued for around two hours before the protestors dispersed.
A gunman carried out the killings at a Kurdish cultural centre and nearby cafe on Friday in a busy part of Paris' 10th district, stunning a community preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unresolved murder of three activists.
Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a sabre attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.
Following questioning of the suspect, investigators had added a suspected racist motive to initial accusations of murder and violence with weapons, the prosecutor's office said on Saturday.
The suspect's custody was subsequently lifted for health reasons and he was taken to a police psychiatric unit, according to the prosecutor.
"The doctor who examined the suspect today in the late afternoon said that the state of health of the person concerned was not compatible with the measure of custody," the Paris prosecutor said.
"The custody measure has therefore been lifted pending his presentation before an investigating judge when his state of health allows," it said, adding that investigations were continuing.
'Not being protected'
After a gathering on Friday afternoon that had also led to clashes with police, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) organised the demonstration at Place de la République on Saturday.
Hundreds of Kurdish protestors, joined by politicians including the mayor of Paris' 10th district, waved flags and listened to tributes to the victims.
"We are not being protected at all. In 10 years, six Kurdish activists have been killed in the heart of Paris in broad daylight," Berivan Firat, a spokesperson for the CDK-F, told BFM TV at the demonstration.
She said the event had soured after some protestors were provoked by people making pro-Turkish gestures in a passing vehicle.
Friday's murders came ahead of the anniversary of the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris in January 2013.
An investigation was dropped after the main suspect died shortly before coming to trial, before being re-opened in 2019.
Kurdish representatives, who met on Saturday with Nunez as well as French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, reiterated their call for Friday's shooting to be considered a terror attack.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AFP)
After a gathering on Friday afternoon that had also led to clashes with police, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) organised the demonstration at Place de la République on Saturday.
Hundreds of Kurdish protestors, joined by politicians including the mayor of Paris' 10th district, waved flags and listened to tributes to the victims.
"We are not being protected at all. In 10 years, six Kurdish activists have been killed in the heart of Paris in broad daylight," Berivan Firat, a spokesperson for the CDK-F, told BFM TV at the demonstration.
She said the event had soured after some protestors were provoked by people making pro-Turkish gestures in a passing vehicle.
Friday's murders came ahead of the anniversary of the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris in January 2013.
An investigation was dropped after the main suspect died shortly before coming to trial, before being re-opened in 2019.
Kurdish representatives, who met on Saturday with Nunez as well as French Justice Minister Eric Dupond-Moretti, reiterated their call for Friday's shooting to be considered a terror attack.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AFP)
Kurds, anti-racism groups gather after deadly Paris shooting
PARIS (AP) — Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups demonstrated Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack that prosecutors say was racially motivated.
Kurds, anti-racism groups gather after deadly Paris shooting
Story by By Manuel Ausloos and Antony Paone • TODAY
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
PARIS (Reuters) -Renewed clashes broke out in Paris on Saturday between police and members of the Kurdish community angry at the killing on Friday of three members of their community.
Several cars were overturned and small fires set alight near Republic Square, the traditional venue for demonstrations in the city where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest.
Clashes broke out as some demonstrators left the square, throwing projectiles at police who responded with tear gas.
A gunman carried out the killings at a Kurdish cultural centre and nearby cafe on Friday in a busy part of Paris' 10th district, stunning a community preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unresolved murder of three activists.
Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a sabre attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
Following questioning of the suspect, investigators had added a suspected racist motive to initial accusations of murder and violence with weapons, the prosecutor's office said on Saturday.
Related video: Police clash with protesters outside Kurdish cultural centre in Paris (PA Media) Duration 1:19 View on Watch
After an angry crowd clashed with police on Friday afternoon, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) organised a gathering on Saturday at Republic Square.
Hundreds of Kurdish protesters, joined by politicians including the mayor of the central 10th district, waved flags and listened to tributes to the victims.
"We know that we are under threat, Kurds in general, Kurdish activists and militants. France owes us protection," Berivan Firat, a spokesperson for the CDK-F told BFM TV.
Friday's murders came ahead of the anniversary of the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris in January 2013.
An investigation was dropped after the main suspect died shortly before coming to trial, before being re-opened in 2019.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
"The Kurdish community is afraid. It was already traumatized by the triple murder (in 2013). It needs answers, support and consideration," David Andic, a lawyer representing the CDK-F told reporters on Friday.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
Kurdish representatives, who met with Paris' police chief on Saturday morning, reiterated their call for Friday's shooting to be considered as a terror attack.
The questioning of the suspect was continuing, the prosecutor's office added.
(Reporting by Manuel Ausloos, Antony Paone, Gus Trompiz, Kate Entringer and Caroline Pailliez; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
PARIS (AP) — Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups demonstrated Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack that prosecutors say was racially motivated.
Kurds, anti-racism groups gather after deadly Paris shooting
© Provided by The Canadian Press
The shooting in a bustling neighborhood of central Paris also wounded three people, and stirred up concerns about hate crimes against minority groups at a time when far-right voices have gained prominence in France and around Europe in recent years.
The suspected attacker was wounded and is in custody. He is a 69-year-old Parisian who was charged last year with attacking migrants and was released earlier this month. He is facing potential charges of murder and attempted murder with a racist motive, the Paris prosecutor's office said Saturday.
Thousands gathered Saturday at the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris, waving a colorful spectrum of flags representing Kurdish rights groups, political parties and other causes. The gathering was largely peaceful, though some youths threw projectiles and skirmished with police firing tear gas. Some protesters shouted slogans against the Turkish government.
Most demonstrators were ethnic Kurds of varying generations who came together to mourn the three people who were killed, share concerns that they don't feel safe, and ask how could this kind of attack happen in the center of Paris.
Related video: Protesters and police clash in Paris after shooting (PA Media)
Duration 1:02 View on Watch
AFPParis shooter was 'clearly targeting foreigners' says Interior Minister Darmanin
0:26
DailymotionParisians and police clash at rally in response to deadly Paris shooting
1:00
PA MediaPolice clash with protesters outside Kurdish cultural centre in Paris
1:19
The shooting shook the Kurdish community in the French capital and put police on extra alert for the Christmas weekend.
The Paris police chief met Saturday with members of the Kurdish community to try to allay their fears ahead of Saturday’s rally.
France's Interior Ministry reported a 13% rise in race-related crimes or other violations in 2021 over 2019, after an 11% rise from 2018 to 2019. The ministry did not include 2020 in its statistics because of successive pandemic lockdowns that year. It said a disproportionate number of such crimes target people of African descent, and also cited hundreds of attacks based on religion.
Friday’s attack took place at the cultural center and a nearby Kurdish restaurant and Kurdish hair salon. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the suspect was clearly targeting foreigners, and had acted alone and was not officially affiliated with any extreme-right or other radical movements. The suspect had past convictions for illegal arms possession and armed violence.
Kurdish activists said they had recently been warned by police of threats to Kurdish targets.
In 2013, three women Kurdish activists, including Sakine Cansiz, a founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, were found shot dead at a Kurdish center in Paris.
Turkey’s army has been battling against Kurdish militants affiliated with the banned PKK in southeast Turkey as well as in northern Iraq. Turkey’s military also recently launched a series of air and artillery strikes against Syrian Kurdish militant targets in northern Syria.
Jeffrey Schaeffer And Angela Charlton, The Associated Press
The shooting in a bustling neighborhood of central Paris also wounded three people, and stirred up concerns about hate crimes against minority groups at a time when far-right voices have gained prominence in France and around Europe in recent years.
The suspected attacker was wounded and is in custody. He is a 69-year-old Parisian who was charged last year with attacking migrants and was released earlier this month. He is facing potential charges of murder and attempted murder with a racist motive, the Paris prosecutor's office said Saturday.
Thousands gathered Saturday at the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris, waving a colorful spectrum of flags representing Kurdish rights groups, political parties and other causes. The gathering was largely peaceful, though some youths threw projectiles and skirmished with police firing tear gas. Some protesters shouted slogans against the Turkish government.
Most demonstrators were ethnic Kurds of varying generations who came together to mourn the three people who were killed, share concerns that they don't feel safe, and ask how could this kind of attack happen in the center of Paris.
Related video: Protesters and police clash in Paris after shooting (PA Media)
Duration 1:02 View on Watch
AFPParis shooter was 'clearly targeting foreigners' says Interior Minister Darmanin
0:26
DailymotionParisians and police clash at rally in response to deadly Paris shooting
1:00
PA MediaPolice clash with protesters outside Kurdish cultural centre in Paris
1:19
The shooting shook the Kurdish community in the French capital and put police on extra alert for the Christmas weekend.
The Paris police chief met Saturday with members of the Kurdish community to try to allay their fears ahead of Saturday’s rally.
France's Interior Ministry reported a 13% rise in race-related crimes or other violations in 2021 over 2019, after an 11% rise from 2018 to 2019. The ministry did not include 2020 in its statistics because of successive pandemic lockdowns that year. It said a disproportionate number of such crimes target people of African descent, and also cited hundreds of attacks based on religion.
Friday’s attack took place at the cultural center and a nearby Kurdish restaurant and Kurdish hair salon. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the suspect was clearly targeting foreigners, and had acted alone and was not officially affiliated with any extreme-right or other radical movements. The suspect had past convictions for illegal arms possession and armed violence.
Kurdish activists said they had recently been warned by police of threats to Kurdish targets.
In 2013, three women Kurdish activists, including Sakine Cansiz, a founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, were found shot dead at a Kurdish center in Paris.
Turkey’s army has been battling against Kurdish militants affiliated with the banned PKK in southeast Turkey as well as in northern Iraq. Turkey’s military also recently launched a series of air and artillery strikes against Syrian Kurdish militant targets in northern Syria.
Jeffrey Schaeffer And Angela Charlton, The Associated Press
French minister at the scene
France's Kurds gather to protest after Paris killings
Story by Reuters • TODAY
PARIS (Reuters) - Representatives of France's Kurdish community gathered in central Paris on Saturday for a demonstration to demand answers over the killing of three Kurds in the French capital they say has exposed the community's vulnerability.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
A gunman carried out the killings at a Kurdish cultural centre and nearby cafe on Friday in a busy part of Paris' 10th district.
Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a sabre attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.
After an angry crowd clashed with police on Friday afternoon, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) called on its website and social media channels for a gathering from midday (1100 GMT) on Saturday at Republic square, a traditional venue for demonstrations in the city.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
Several hundred people gathered in the square, with many holding flags.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on Friday that possible racist motives would be part of the investigation, but Kurdish representatives said it should be considered as a terror attack.
"We know that we are under threat, Kurds in general, Kurdish activists and militants. France owes us protection," Berivan Firat, a spokesperson for the CDK-F told BFM TV.
Friday's murders caused particular dismay in the Kurdish community as it prepared to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris.
"The Kurdish community is afraid. It was already traumatised by the triple murder (in 2013). It needs answers, support and consideration," David Andic, a lawyer representing the CDK-F told reporters on Friday.
Paris' police chief was due to meet members of the Kurdish community on Saturday morning ahead of the afternoon protest.
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz, Kate Entringer and Caroline Pailliez; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Story by Reuters • TODAY
PARIS (Reuters) - Representatives of France's Kurdish community gathered in central Paris on Saturday for a demonstration to demand answers over the killing of three Kurds in the French capital they say has exposed the community's vulnerability.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
A gunman carried out the killings at a Kurdish cultural centre and nearby cafe on Friday in a busy part of Paris' 10th district.
Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a sabre attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.
After an angry crowd clashed with police on Friday afternoon, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) called on its website and social media channels for a gathering from midday (1100 GMT) on Saturday at Republic square, a traditional venue for demonstrations in the city.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
Several hundred people gathered in the square, with many holding flags.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said on Friday that possible racist motives would be part of the investigation, but Kurdish representatives said it should be considered as a terror attack.
"We know that we are under threat, Kurds in general, Kurdish activists and militants. France owes us protection," Berivan Firat, a spokesperson for the CDK-F told BFM TV.
Friday's murders caused particular dismay in the Kurdish community as it prepared to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris.
"The Kurdish community is afraid. It was already traumatised by the triple murder (in 2013). It needs answers, support and consideration," David Andic, a lawyer representing the CDK-F told reporters on Friday.
Paris' police chief was due to meet members of the Kurdish community on Saturday morning ahead of the afternoon protest.
(Reporting by Gus Trompiz, Kate Entringer and Caroline Pailliez; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Police and protesters clash in Paris after fatal shooting at Kurdish community center
Story by Xiaofei Xu • TODAY
Clashes between protesters and police have broken out in central Paris on Saturday, as members of the local Kurdish community took to the streets to call for justice following Friday’s deadly shooting at a Kurdish cultural center.
Live images from CNN’s affiliate BFMTV, as well as news agencies Reuters and AFP show damaged streets and smoke rising from cars as demonstrators clash with police.
The skirmishes, which are ongoing, are taking place in the area near Place de la République in the heart of the French capital, not far from the Ahmet-Kaya Kurdish cultural center, the site of Friday’s shooting.
CNN has reached out to the Paris Police department and the Kurdish community center for comment.
A gunman killed three people and injured three others in an attack with possible racist underpinnings at the cultural center on Rue d’Enghien in central Paris Friday.
All three victims who lost their lives were Kurds, the center’s lawyer confirmed to CNN.
A march in central Paris on Saturday, organized in the aftermath of the shooting, has been called off earlier than planned by the Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDKF) due to the clashes.
“To avoid damages at the Place de la République and people getting injured, we (the CDKF) have put an end to the march,” spokesperson Berivan Firat told BFMTV Saturday, adding that from now on the group will no longer be held responsible for the actions of protesters.
Police and protesters clash in Paris after fatal shooting at Kurdish community center© Provided by CNNProtesters in the French capital on Saturday. - Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
The march was originally scheduled to start at the Place de la République and had been authorized by the Paris Police department.
Things turned violent shortly after the march began with police firing tear gas, Firat told BFMTV.
Many protesters remain at Place de la République and Place de la Bastille, the scheduled end point of the march, even after the event was canceled. Clashes at Place de Bastille have since died down, with some cars turned upside down and burnt, according to live images from BFMTV.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez was scheduled to meet with leaders of the Kurdish community today at 10 a.m. local time, at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, Paris Police said in a statement.
On Friday, Darmanin said that France will ensure the rights of the Kurds who wanted to protest and vowed to increase policing around Kurdish sites.
The demonstrations are taking place in the heart of Paris. - Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
The suspected attacker in Friday’s attack, a 69-year-old French man with a long criminal record, has been arrested.
He was not part of any far-right groups monitored by the police, Darmanin told journalists at the scene. “He (the suspect) clearly wanted to take it out on foreigners,” the minister added.
Angry protesters face off with riot police in the wake of the shooting on Friday. - Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
Protesters from the Kurdish community voiced their concerns after the attack. - Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
While the shooting has not been designated a terrorist attack, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Friday that investigators are not ruling out possible “racist motivations” behind the shooting.
“When it comes to racist motivations, of course these elements are part of the investigation that was just launched,” Beccuau said.
French President Macron on Twitter deplored the “heinous attack” where “the Kurds of France have been the target.”
Story by Xiaofei Xu • TODAY
Clashes between protesters and police have broken out in central Paris on Saturday, as members of the local Kurdish community took to the streets to call for justice following Friday’s deadly shooting at a Kurdish cultural center.
Live images from CNN’s affiliate BFMTV, as well as news agencies Reuters and AFP show damaged streets and smoke rising from cars as demonstrators clash with police.
The skirmishes, which are ongoing, are taking place in the area near Place de la République in the heart of the French capital, not far from the Ahmet-Kaya Kurdish cultural center, the site of Friday’s shooting.
CNN has reached out to the Paris Police department and the Kurdish community center for comment.
A gunman killed three people and injured three others in an attack with possible racist underpinnings at the cultural center on Rue d’Enghien in central Paris Friday.
All three victims who lost their lives were Kurds, the center’s lawyer confirmed to CNN.
A march in central Paris on Saturday, organized in the aftermath of the shooting, has been called off earlier than planned by the Kurdish Democratic Council in France (CDKF) due to the clashes.
“To avoid damages at the Place de la République and people getting injured, we (the CDKF) have put an end to the march,” spokesperson Berivan Firat told BFMTV Saturday, adding that from now on the group will no longer be held responsible for the actions of protesters.
Police and protesters clash in Paris after fatal shooting at Kurdish community center© Provided by CNNProtesters in the French capital on Saturday. - Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
The march was originally scheduled to start at the Place de la République and had been authorized by the Paris Police department.
Things turned violent shortly after the march began with police firing tear gas, Firat told BFMTV.
Many protesters remain at Place de la République and Place de la Bastille, the scheduled end point of the march, even after the event was canceled. Clashes at Place de Bastille have since died down, with some cars turned upside down and burnt, according to live images from BFMTV.
Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez was scheduled to meet with leaders of the Kurdish community today at 10 a.m. local time, at the request of French President Emmanuel Macron and Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, Paris Police said in a statement.
On Friday, Darmanin said that France will ensure the rights of the Kurds who wanted to protest and vowed to increase policing around Kurdish sites.
The demonstrations are taking place in the heart of Paris. - Sarah Meyssonnier/Reuters
The suspected attacker in Friday’s attack, a 69-year-old French man with a long criminal record, has been arrested.
He was not part of any far-right groups monitored by the police, Darmanin told journalists at the scene. “He (the suspect) clearly wanted to take it out on foreigners,” the minister added.
Angry protesters face off with riot police in the wake of the shooting on Friday. - Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
Protesters from the Kurdish community voiced their concerns after the attack. - Kiran Ridley/Getty Images
While the shooting has not been designated a terrorist attack, Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau said Friday that investigators are not ruling out possible “racist motivations” behind the shooting.
“When it comes to racist motivations, of course these elements are part of the investigation that was just launched,” Beccuau said.
French President Macron on Twitter deplored the “heinous attack” where “the Kurds of France have been the target.”
Kurds clash with police in Paris again after killings
Story by By Manuel Ausloos and Antony Paone • TODAY
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
PARIS (Reuters) -Renewed clashes broke out in Paris on Saturday between police and members of the Kurdish community angry at the killing on Friday of three members of their community.
Several cars were overturned and small fires set alight near Republic Square, the traditional venue for demonstrations in the city where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest.
Clashes broke out as some demonstrators left the square, throwing projectiles at police who responded with tear gas.
A gunman carried out the killings at a Kurdish cultural centre and nearby cafe on Friday in a busy part of Paris' 10th district, stunning a community preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unresolved murder of three activists.
Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a sabre attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
Following questioning of the suspect, investigators had added a suspected racist motive to initial accusations of murder and violence with weapons, the prosecutor's office said on Saturday.
Related video: Police clash with protesters outside Kurdish cultural centre in Paris (PA Media) Duration 1:19 View on Watch
After an angry crowd clashed with police on Friday afternoon, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) organised a gathering on Saturday at Republic Square.
Hundreds of Kurdish protesters, joined by politicians including the mayor of the central 10th district, waved flags and listened to tributes to the victims.
"We know that we are under threat, Kurds in general, Kurdish activists and militants. France owes us protection," Berivan Firat, a spokesperson for the CDK-F told BFM TV.
Friday's murders came ahead of the anniversary of the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris in January 2013.
An investigation was dropped after the main suspect died shortly before coming to trial, before being re-opened in 2019.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
"The Kurdish community is afraid. It was already traumatized by the triple murder (in 2013). It needs answers, support and consideration," David Andic, a lawyer representing the CDK-F told reporters on Friday.
Members of the Kurdish community gather at the Place de la Republique square following the shooting, in Paris© Thomson Reuters
Kurdish representatives, who met with Paris' police chief on Saturday morning, reiterated their call for Friday's shooting to be considered as a terror attack.
The questioning of the suspect was continuing, the prosecutor's office added.
(Reporting by Manuel Ausloos, Antony Paone, Gus Trompiz, Kate Entringer and Caroline Pailliez; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
Attack on Kurds in Paris revives trauma of unresolved murders
Story by AFP • Yesterday
Furious Kurdish demonstrators clashed with police in central Paris on Friday after a deadly attack on a community centre which has revived the trauma of three unresolved murders in 2013 that many blame on Turkey.
Demonstrators threw objects at police in response, set rubbish bins on fire and erected barricades in Paris
Story by AFP • Yesterday
Furious Kurdish demonstrators clashed with police in central Paris on Friday after a deadly attack on a community centre which has revived the trauma of three unresolved murders in 2013 that many blame on Turkey.
Demonstrators threw objects at police in response, set rubbish bins on fire and erected barricades in Paris
© Thomas SAMSON
Police deployed outside the cultural centre used teargas to disperse the protesters who tried to break through a police cordon protecting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, AFP reporters said.
Some could be seen throwing objects at police and setting rubbish bins on fire, while several cars were damaged during the disturbances.
The community has been left incensed by the attack, with many -- without evidence at this stage -- again pointing the finger at Turkey.
They also accuse French authorities of not doing enough to protect them.
"I can't believe it's starting again," Jihan Akdogan told AFP at the scene. "We knew it would start again," her brother, Juan Golan Elibeg, 41, added.
Both were referring to the notorious triple murders of three Kurdish women activists almost 10 years ago in the same area of Paris that deeply shook the Kurdish diaspora in France.
Police deployed outside the cultural centre used teargas to disperse the protesters who tried to break through a police cordon© Thomas SAMSON
In January 2013, three activists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), including one of the group's founders, were shot dead at a nearby Kurdish centre in what resembled a targeted attack.
A Turkish man was charged with the suspected assassinations afterwards, but he died in custody in 2016 before being tried.
The victims' families have long pointed the finger at Turkey for masterminding the deaths of the three women, who were shot in the head and neck, and at France for failing to investigate properly.
Daily MailKurdish mob bring violence to the streets of the French capital
1:55
France 24France to reinforce protection of Kurdish community sites after Paris shooting, French Interior minister says
7:33
"You aren't protecting us. We're being killed!" a young man shouted at police at the scene on Friday as he wept in the street.
- Racist violence? -
Despite the suspicions in the community, there appears to be no evidence that Friday's shooting had political motives or was linked to Turkey.
French authorities have been extremely cautious about suggesting a motive, with early suspicions being racism.
The suspected gunman is a 69-year-old French retired train driver with a history of violence against foreigners.
In December last year, he was charged with attacking migrants living in tents in eastern Paris with a sword, injuring at least two of them.
The man "was clearly targeting foreigners", Interior Minister Darmanin told reporters, while adding it was "not certain" that he was aiming to kill "Kurds in particular".
"We don't yet know his exact motives," he said.
- Kurdish activism -
Some demonstrators could be heard chanting slogans on Friday in support of the PKK, a Kurdish organisation designated as terrorist by Ankara, the European Union and others.
The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, initially in support of an independent Kurdish state and latterly for greater Kurdish autonomy within Turkey.
Often described as the world's largest people without a state, the Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
Turkey launches regular military operations against the PKK as well as Kurdish groups it accuses of being allies in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.
The Kurdish Democratic Council of France, an umbrella Kurdish group headquartered in the cultural centre targeted on Friday, also pointed the finger at Turkey on Friday.
"For us there is no doubt that it is a terror attack which has occurred just before the 10th anniversary of the triple murders of three Kurdish activists in Paris," senior member Agit Polat told AFP.
The group called for a vigil on Friday evening.
Police deployed outside the cultural centre used teargas to disperse the protesters who tried to break through a police cordon protecting Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, AFP reporters said.
Some could be seen throwing objects at police and setting rubbish bins on fire, while several cars were damaged during the disturbances.
The community has been left incensed by the attack, with many -- without evidence at this stage -- again pointing the finger at Turkey.
They also accuse French authorities of not doing enough to protect them.
"I can't believe it's starting again," Jihan Akdogan told AFP at the scene. "We knew it would start again," her brother, Juan Golan Elibeg, 41, added.
Both were referring to the notorious triple murders of three Kurdish women activists almost 10 years ago in the same area of Paris that deeply shook the Kurdish diaspora in France.
Police deployed outside the cultural centre used teargas to disperse the protesters who tried to break through a police cordon© Thomas SAMSON
In January 2013, three activists from the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), including one of the group's founders, were shot dead at a nearby Kurdish centre in what resembled a targeted attack.
A Turkish man was charged with the suspected assassinations afterwards, but he died in custody in 2016 before being tried.
The victims' families have long pointed the finger at Turkey for masterminding the deaths of the three women, who were shot in the head and neck, and at France for failing to investigate properly.
Daily MailKurdish mob bring violence to the streets of the French capital
1:55
France 24France to reinforce protection of Kurdish community sites after Paris shooting, French Interior minister says
7:33
"You aren't protecting us. We're being killed!" a young man shouted at police at the scene on Friday as he wept in the street.
- Racist violence? -
Despite the suspicions in the community, there appears to be no evidence that Friday's shooting had political motives or was linked to Turkey.
French authorities have been extremely cautious about suggesting a motive, with early suspicions being racism.
The suspected gunman is a 69-year-old French retired train driver with a history of violence against foreigners.
In December last year, he was charged with attacking migrants living in tents in eastern Paris with a sword, injuring at least two of them.
The man "was clearly targeting foreigners", Interior Minister Darmanin told reporters, while adding it was "not certain" that he was aiming to kill "Kurds in particular".
"We don't yet know his exact motives," he said.
- Kurdish activism -
Some demonstrators could be heard chanting slogans on Friday in support of the PKK, a Kurdish organisation designated as terrorist by Ankara, the European Union and others.
The PKK has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, initially in support of an independent Kurdish state and latterly for greater Kurdish autonomy within Turkey.
Often described as the world's largest people without a state, the Kurds are a Muslim ethnic group spread across Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.
Turkey launches regular military operations against the PKK as well as Kurdish groups it accuses of being allies in neighbouring Syria and Iraq.
The Kurdish Democratic Council of France, an umbrella Kurdish group headquartered in the cultural centre targeted on Friday, also pointed the finger at Turkey on Friday.
"For us there is no doubt that it is a terror attack which has occurred just before the 10th anniversary of the triple murders of three Kurdish activists in Paris," senior member Agit Polat told AFP.
The group called for a vigil on Friday evening.
Attack on Kurdish center in Paris is alarming - analysis
Story by By SETH J. FRANTZMAN • The Jerusalem Post
A gunman murdered three people in Paris on Friday in an attack on a Kurdish community center and a hair salon that has raised alarm in France
French police secure a street after gunshots were fired killing and injuring several people in a central district of Paris, France, December 23, 2022.
Story by By SETH J. FRANTZMAN • The Jerusalem Post
A gunman murdered three people in Paris on Friday in an attack on a Kurdish community center and a hair salon that has raised alarm in France
French police secure a street after gunshots were fired killing and injuring several people in a central district of Paris, France, December 23, 2022.
(photo credit: REUTERS/SARAH MEYSSONNIER)
The attack raises questions about how the man obtained a gun and why he was not stopped by the security services. France24 noted that “the gunman, named as William M. in the French media, had already been linked to two previous attempted murders in 2016 and 2021.”
Reports say he was implicated in an attack on migrants in the past. Reports also say he was recently released from detention. The full details are not clear, but it will be important to explain the motives behind the attack. French media have characterized it as a suspected racist attack, but authorities have also said they don’t know the full motive yet.
Kurdistan Region of Iraq Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Friday said he was “troubled by today’s heinous attack on the Kurdish community in Paris.” French President Emanuel Macron condemned the attack. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted “my deepest sympathies go out to the victims of the attack at the Kurdish cultural center in Paris. My thoughts are with the members of the Kurdish community and people of France on this sad day.”
The attack raises questions about how the man obtained a gun and why he was not stopped by the security services. France24 noted that “the gunman, named as William M. in the French media, had already been linked to two previous attempted murders in 2016 and 2021.”
Reports say he was implicated in an attack on migrants in the past. Reports also say he was recently released from detention. The full details are not clear, but it will be important to explain the motives behind the attack. French media have characterized it as a suspected racist attack, but authorities have also said they don’t know the full motive yet.
Kurdistan Region of Iraq Prime Minister Masrour Barzani on Friday said he was “troubled by today’s heinous attack on the Kurdish community in Paris.” French President Emanuel Macron condemned the attack. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted “my deepest sympathies go out to the victims of the attack at the Kurdish cultural center in Paris. My thoughts are with the members of the Kurdish community and people of France on this sad day.”
It is important that the condemnations show solidarity with the Kurdish community and also seek answers about how this happened. It is not the first time Kurds have been targeted in attacks in Europe. Ten years ago three Kurdish women were killed in another attack in Paris. In that case, it appeared that the attack was politically motivated and targeting a far-left Kurdish group.
Turkish pro-government media have downplayed the attack and accused “terror supporters” of attacking police after the murders. There were clashes with police after the attack. Only Ankara’s media accused the protesters of being “terrorists” while Turkish media said the motive for the attack was unknown.
Not the first time Kurds have been targeted
It is not the first time Kurds have been targeted in attacks in Europe. Ten years ago three Kurdish women were killed in another attack in Paris. In that case, it appeared that the attack was politically motivated and targeting a far-left Kurdish group.
Related video: France to reinforce protection of Kurdish community sites after Paris shooting, French Interior minister says (France 24)
PA MediaProtesters and police clash in Paris after shooting
1:02
Turkish pro-government media have downplayed the attack and accused “terror supporters” of attacking police after the murders. There were clashes with police after the attack.
Only Ankara’s media accused the protesters of being “terrorists” while Turkish media said the motive for the attack was unknown. The decision by Ankara-based media to condemn the protesters and downplay the attack is interesting. It appears to not want to mention that the victims were members of the Kurdish minority.
Ankara’s far-right ruling party has also targeted Kurds in attacks in Syria and Iraq and has often targeted Kurdish politicians for arrest in Turkey.
In the past Ankara has sought to inflame tensions with Paris. When French teacher Samuel Paty was murdered in October 2020 Turkey condemned France for “Islamophobia.” In that case, Ankara appeared to side with protesters after the incident. Ankara is also involved in another case trying to extradite a journalist from Sweden while blocking Sweden from joining NATO.
Kurdish migrants in Europe face hardships
The attack on Kurds in Paris conjures up other memories of attacks on Kurds in Europe and highlights the hardship that Kurdish migrants have had in Europe. Many Kurds have moved to Europe in the last decade. The overall number of Kurds in Europe is unclear but the Kurdish diaspora is very significant in many European countries, including France, Germany, Sweden and the UK.
Earlier this year, Rudaw media reported the death of a Kurdish man in Germany. “The Giesen city camp administration and local authorities have alleged that on July 13, Mihvan Mohammed, 32, from the town of Zakho, set himself alight.”
In another incident, it was reported that “a 25-year-old man who managed to cross Belarus and Poland died late last month just after reaching Germany. Baxtyar Anwar’s body was returned home.” The cause of death was unclear, however, Anwar had been trying to reach Europe via a difficult route from Belarus. In another case, a gunman targeted immigrants in Hanau, Germany, and attacked an area where Kurds live.
Kurds have faced other struggles recently. Many Kurds have been targeted by the Iranian regime during protests in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who died in police custody after the morality police accused her of improperly covering her hair. In addition, poverty has caused many to flee Syria and also Iraq, seeking to get to Europe via Belarus and other routes.
The murder of Sarah Halimi
The attack on the Kurdish minority in France also recalls the murder of Sarah Halimi, a Jewish woman. Her killer could not be prosecuted because the court ruled regular use of cannabis had supposedly driven him insane. The killer remains in a secure hospital.
Attacks on Kurds, Jews and other minorities by extremists are a rising concern. Failure to prosecute or impose long prison terms for perpetrators of targeted violence raises questions about how seriously authorities take the attacks or whether prosecutors have the tools with which to prosecute these terrorists.
Turkish pro-government media have downplayed the attack and accused “terror supporters” of attacking police after the murders. There were clashes with police after the attack. Only Ankara’s media accused the protesters of being “terrorists” while Turkish media said the motive for the attack was unknown.
Not the first time Kurds have been targeted
It is not the first time Kurds have been targeted in attacks in Europe. Ten years ago three Kurdish women were killed in another attack in Paris. In that case, it appeared that the attack was politically motivated and targeting a far-left Kurdish group.
Related video: France to reinforce protection of Kurdish community sites after Paris shooting, French Interior minister says (France 24)
PA MediaProtesters and police clash in Paris after shooting
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Turkish pro-government media have downplayed the attack and accused “terror supporters” of attacking police after the murders. There were clashes with police after the attack.
Only Ankara’s media accused the protesters of being “terrorists” while Turkish media said the motive for the attack was unknown. The decision by Ankara-based media to condemn the protesters and downplay the attack is interesting. It appears to not want to mention that the victims were members of the Kurdish minority.
Ankara’s far-right ruling party has also targeted Kurds in attacks in Syria and Iraq and has often targeted Kurdish politicians for arrest in Turkey.
In the past Ankara has sought to inflame tensions with Paris. When French teacher Samuel Paty was murdered in October 2020 Turkey condemned France for “Islamophobia.” In that case, Ankara appeared to side with protesters after the incident. Ankara is also involved in another case trying to extradite a journalist from Sweden while blocking Sweden from joining NATO.
Kurdish migrants in Europe face hardships
The attack on Kurds in Paris conjures up other memories of attacks on Kurds in Europe and highlights the hardship that Kurdish migrants have had in Europe. Many Kurds have moved to Europe in the last decade. The overall number of Kurds in Europe is unclear but the Kurdish diaspora is very significant in many European countries, including France, Germany, Sweden and the UK.
Earlier this year, Rudaw media reported the death of a Kurdish man in Germany. “The Giesen city camp administration and local authorities have alleged that on July 13, Mihvan Mohammed, 32, from the town of Zakho, set himself alight.”
In another incident, it was reported that “a 25-year-old man who managed to cross Belarus and Poland died late last month just after reaching Germany. Baxtyar Anwar’s body was returned home.” The cause of death was unclear, however, Anwar had been trying to reach Europe via a difficult route from Belarus. In another case, a gunman targeted immigrants in Hanau, Germany, and attacked an area where Kurds live.
Kurds have faced other struggles recently. Many Kurds have been targeted by the Iranian regime during protests in response to the death of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish woman who died in police custody after the morality police accused her of improperly covering her hair. In addition, poverty has caused many to flee Syria and also Iraq, seeking to get to Europe via Belarus and other routes.
The murder of Sarah Halimi
The attack on the Kurdish minority in France also recalls the murder of Sarah Halimi, a Jewish woman. Her killer could not be prosecuted because the court ruled regular use of cannabis had supposedly driven him insane. The killer remains in a secure hospital.
Attacks on Kurds, Jews and other minorities by extremists are a rising concern. Failure to prosecute or impose long prison terms for perpetrators of targeted violence raises questions about how seriously authorities take the attacks or whether prosecutors have the tools with which to prosecute these terrorists.
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