France promises police transparency after violent protests erupt

Fears over police brutality spark unrest in Nantes

A demonstrator kicks back a tear gas cannister during a rally in Nantes, called in memory of Steve Maia Canico. EPA

French interior minister Christophe Castaner has promised to shed light on the actions of police that supposedly led to the death of a man, 24,  who drowned in a river, after weekend violence marred a vigil in his honour.

Police fired tear gas and arrested more than 40 protesters attending the vigil in the city of Nantes, western France, after the death of Steve Maia Caniço.

He was among about 14 people who fell into the River Loire in Nantes when police raided a music festival and fired tear gas at party goers during  France's national music celebration day. His death has led to a public outcry and accusations that the police used excessive force in dispersing the crowds.

His body was found 38 days after his disappearance and sparked an outcry over police brutality in France.

During a peaceful Saturday morning vigil hundreds threw flowers into the river, followed by a much larger inner-city protest that drew 1,700 people, police said.

Footage on social media shows protesters setting ablaze barricades as face-to-face clashes with police in riot gear resulted in injuries.

French media said local medics attending the scene said the police fired teargas while a man was lying on the ground wrapped in a blanket of survival, which then caught fire.

Mr Canico’s death has once again put police brutality into the spotlight.

Last month, French police fired tear gas directly on climate change activists taking part in a sit-in across Paris.

Yellow vest protesters who have held anti-government demonstrations every weekend this year have also accused police of using excessive force.

The family of Mr Canico say they “feel quite betrayed by calls to violence” and have called for calm.

“For many months, we have been asking you about: When will a law enforcement strategy respect human rights?”, said human rights group Amnesty International in a tweet directed at French Prime Minister Eduoard Philippe.

“For many months, we have alerted France on many points … on the urgency of applying de-escalation strategies to avoid as much as possible the use of force”.