Kylian Mbappe, France Stars Outraged Over Police Killing of Teenager in Paris Suburb

French police shot and killed a 17-year-old at a traffic stop in Nanterre on Tuesday, leading to protests and criticism around the country.

Kylian Mbappé joined several French teammates in expressing their anger over the death of a 17-year-old delivery driver who was shot and killed by police in the Paris suburb of Nanterre. 

The teenager, identified as Naël M., was killed Tuesday during a traffic check, sparking protests around the country. Per the Associated Press, the police officer that allegedly shot the teen was detained and now faces potential manslaughter charges. 

“I’m hurting for my France,” Mbappé tweeted. “An unacceptable situation. All my thoughts go to the family and loved ones of Naël, this little angel gone far too soon.”

Gérald Darmanin, France’s interior minister, said that 25 police officers were injured, 40 cars were burned and 31 people were arrested in the subsequent protests. Darmanin also said that 2,000 police officers will be deployed around Paris on Wednesday. 

Along with Mbappé, Barcelona defender Jules Koundé expressed his disbelief at the killing, focusing his criticism on the French media’s coverage.

“As if this latest police blunder wasn’t enough, the nonstop news outlets are taking advantage of it by making a big fuss,” Koundé wrote. “Disconnected from reality, ‘journalists’ ask ‘questions’ with the sole aim of distorting the truth, criminalizing the victim and finding extenuating circumstances where there are none. An age-old method for masking the real problem.”

“A bullet in the head…It’s always for the same people that being in the wrong leads to death,” France goalkeeper Mike Maignan tweeted in response to Koundé’s post.