Paris suburb burns in protests after police rape

Clashes have erupted between protesters and police in a suburban Paris neighborhood as hundreds rallied to protest police brutality after a black youth was allegedly sodomized with a baton following his arrest.

According to reports, the clashes occurred early Tuesday after crowds of protesters took to the streets of impoverished Aulnay-sous-Bois neighborhood in the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb to condemn the act. 

France's interior ministry has confirmed charges of torture and rape against four police officers involved in the case.

The development came after the 22-year-old victim, identified only as Theo, was transferred to a hospital with severe anal injuries and head trauma following his arrest by police officers.

The incident risks reviving the controversial issue of policing in France’s poor neighborhoods, which led to the death of another black man last year while in police custody and massive riots a decade ago.

According to the report, one officer was charged with rape and three others with assault during Theo’s arrest on Thursday evening in what has been described as a tough neighborhood. The report said the severity of his injuries led a physician to declare him unfit to work for 60 days.

Theo recounted his ordeal at the hands of the police officer in a televised interview, saying he had also been racially abused in a patrol car following the physical abuse during the arrest.

Video footage of the arrest filmed by the police has been released. French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux confirmed late Sunday that all four police officers involved in Theo’s arrest had been suspended.

Police, however, have denied allegations of brutality and rape and claim they were targeting lookouts for drug dealers.

With tensions running high, the rallies and clashes late Monday night and early Tuesday marked the consecutive evening of protests in reaction to the latest case of police brutality in France.

On Saturday and Sunday evening, clashes and arson attacks were also reported in the huge housing complex – known as "3,000" – near the site of the arrest. Protesters set three vehicles on fire and several arrests were made.

SS