Paris Shootout: Clashes Break Out For Second Day Over Killings Of 3 Kurds

Several properties were damaged with cars overturned, at least 1 vehicle burned, shop windows were damaged and small fires set alight near Republic Square where Kurds earlier held peaceful protest. 

Clashes broke out for second day in Paris over killing of three Kurdis in a shootout.

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Clashes between Police and Kurdish protestors broke out for a second day in Paris after three members of Kurdish community were killed by a gunman in the French capital, reported news agency Reuters. Several properties were damaged with cars overturned, at least one vehicle was burned, shop windows were damaged and small fires set alight near Republic Square, a traditional venue for demonstrations where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest. 

As per the report quoting Paris police chief Laurent Nunez as saying, it was not known why the protest took a sudden violent turn. 

A few dozen protestors were responsible for the violence, Nunez said while speaking to a news channel and added that there had been 11 arrests and 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, the report added. 

A gunman carried out the killings on Friday at a Kurdish Cultural Centre and nearby cafe in a busy part of Paris' 10th district, stunning a community preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unresolved murder of three activists.

A 69-year-old man was arrested by the Police 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 questioning was, however, later halted on medical grounds and the suspect was transferred to a psychiatric unit, said the prosecutor’s office.

The suspect will be presented to an investigating magistrate when his health permits, it added.