Rioting broke out in a suburb of the French city of Lyon following the shooting of a man in police custody.

A murder investigation against a police officer who is believed to have shot dead a 24-year-old father of three led to rioting on the housing estate where the dead man lived.

The victim, Fabrice Fernandez, was shot in a police station. He was handcuffed when a 40-year-old police officer picked up the shotgun which Fernandez had been carrying when he was arrested, pointed it at him, and fired it in his face.

There has also been a second night of trouble in a Paris suburb following the unrelated shooting of a 16-year-old boy who was trying to run a road block.

In Lyon rioters set fire to around 50 cars and lorries in clashes with security forces. Several shots were also fired at police officers by unidentified gunmen.

Three policemen and three firefighters were slightly injured when they were hit by rocks thrown by protestors, according to reports.

Charge unusual

Incidents in France in which police officers, on or off duty, are responsible for the deaths of young men - often from poor neighbourhoods and of immigrant origin - are not frequent but are not rare either.

Critics of the police say they are often protected by their own hierarchy or by local politicians, and that those responsible often escape punishment.

The decision to bring proceedings which could lead to a charge of murder is unusual.

However, it is also the case that French police officers are poorly paid, ill-trained and often live in communities actively hostile to them.
 

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