By Hajer M’tiri
PARIS
Riots that have hit the suburbs of France over the last 12 days in protest at the alleged rape of a young black man by police have declined, Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux said Thursday.
The situation in Seine-Saint-Denis department -- a northeast suburb of Paris -- is “almost back to normal” after nights of violent rioting that erupted in the wake of the “Theo affair”, Le Roux told reporters as he visited police in Bobigny, near the site of the alleged assault.
The Paris Police Prefecture said there had been no arrests overnight in Seine-Saint-Denis.
Riots followed allegations that a young man had been assaulted by police during a routine ID check. Four police officers linked to the arrest of a 22-year-old man identified only as Theo have been charged with crimes, including rape and assault.
One officer has been charged with rape while the others face charges of voluntary aggravated violence. Le Roux has suspended the four police officers.
A few demonstrations took place in the capital on Wednesday night. In the popular Barbes neighborhood, around 400 people took part in a protest demanding “Justice for Theo”. Several clashed with police.
Around 21 people were reportedly arrested in a similar protest in the northern city of Rouen.
At least 245 people have been arrested since the outbreak of rioting on Feb. 4. Of 48 suspects charged, 14 have been jailed, according to the police on Wednesday.
