France cop victim's gran: My heart is in pain.... stop the riots

Nahel plea as mayor's family in blaze attack

- ANDY LINES

THE gran of a teenager killed by French police last night begged rioters to stop after a mayor was targeted by a mob who crashed a blazing car into his home.

She urged calm following a fifth night of violence after Nahel Merzouk, 17, was shot dead by police in Paris.

Nadia said: "We don't want them to destroy shops, buses and schools.

"They are using Nahel as an excuse. We want things to calm down. It's over, my daughter no longer has a life."

When told some people were donating money online to the officer who fired the fatal shot on Tuesday, she said: "My heart is in pain.

But she added she had confidence the officer, known as Florian M, 38, would be punished in court. He is on remand charged with murder.

Her came as it emerged many of the riots were orchestrated by youngsters on Snapchat and TikTok.

Across the country more than 700 people were arrested overnight. And the violence has now spread to Switzerland and Belgium.

As I walked the streets of Paris yesterday following Nahel's funeral signs of carnage were everywhere.

Burnt-out cars, lorries and spent tear-gas canisters littered the streets.