The author of the shooting that caused three deaths in the Kurdish community in Paris has confessed to having acted out of racism. In parallel, the demonstration called in memory of the victims degenerated into riots and clashes with the forces of order.
The Paris Prosecutor's Office, which is investigating the facts, included the aggravating factor of racism in the charges against the detainee, a 69-year-old man who, for now, faces charges of homicide, attempted homicide, voluntary violence and violation of the gun ownership rules
French investigators have so far not highlighted the terrorist nature of the action, something that is "obvious" for the Kurdish organizations in France.
The author of the events confessed during his arrest to having acted out of "racism" and indicated that he wanted to "kill Kurds".
"How many have I killed?" he asked the agents who handcuffed him in a hairdresser's near the Kurdish cultural center where he carried out the massacre.
One more element that allows the Kurdish associations in Paris to feel threatened and consider that it is a terrorist attack with political motivations.
Representatives of the Kurdish Democratic Committee in France (CDKF) were received by the Paris prefect, Laurent Nunez, and by the Minister of Justice, Éric Dupond-Moretti, in a clear attempt by the authorities to reduce tension.
After the disturbances provoked this Friday after the attack, when members of the Kurdish community threw objects at the forces of order, there was concern about the way in which the demonstration called this Saturday was going to take place.
Thousands of people gathered in the Republic Square of the capital, located a few meters from the scene of the shooting, with flags of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) and with photos of its leader, Abdullah Öcalan.
They also carried portraits of the three Kurdish militants murdered in cold blood by a Turkish activist almost ten years ago at a location very close to the shooting on Friday.
In the surrounding streets, the tension rose and some of the protesters began to confront the law enforcement officers present to maintain security.
Despite the intervention of the CDKF security service, the situation degenerated, street furniture was damaged, several cars were overturned, containers and other items were set on fire, and several shop windows were broken.
The excited demonstrators threw objects at the agents, who responded with tear gas, which impregnated the sector with a dense fog.
The intervention of the CDKF security service was key to calming the situation, which resulted in eleven detainees, 31 injured agents and one protester treated by the health services, according to the balance of the Prefecture.
Regardless of the incidents, for the most part the demonstration proceeded calmly.
The tension reflects the discontent of the Kurds in France with the lack of protection they say they have in the country. In his opinion, the investigation into the murder, with a shot to the neck, of the three Kurdish militants in January 2013 was closed falsely and now they believe that justice is wrong in not considering this Friday's shooting terrorist.
"For us there is no doubt about the political and terrorist nature of these murders and we have asked that their classification be reviewed," said CDFK spokesman Agit Polat.
"The classification of the crimes corresponds to the judges, we are in a state of law," replied the Minister of Justice, who received the Kurdish representatives and confessed that, with the crime on Friday, "France is in mourning."
