US$1 million in donations for French police officer who sparked riots after killing teenager
- The collection outstripped US$206,000 gathered for the family of Nahel, the dead 17-year-old of north African origin
- Nahel’s grandmother said she was ‘heartbroken’ by the support shown for the policeman who she says ‘must pay, the same as everyone’
A collection for a French policeman who sparked nationwide riots last week by shooting a teenager dead reached more than 986,000 euros (US$1.07 million) on Monday, dwarfing donations to the victim’s family.
More than 40,000 people have pledged money to the online fund for the officer, set up on the website Gofundme.com by a alt-right media commentator.
The collection easily outstripped the 189,000 euros gathered for the family of the dead 17-year-old, Nahel, who is of north African origin and lived with his mother on a housing estate in a west Paris suburb.
Nahel’s grandmother said she was “heartbroken” by the support shown for the policeman.
“He took the life of my grandson. This man must pay, the same as everyone,” she told the BFM channel on Sunday.
“I have confidence in the justice system. I believe in justice.”
