France's Macron spotted dancing at concert as riots rage in Paris

French President Emmanuel Macron has faced backlash after he was spotted at an Elton John concert while riots and violence engulfed the streets of Paris for a third consecutive night.

The unrest followed the fatal police shooting of a 17-year-old identified as Nahel M., leading to heightened tensions across Paris.

More than 600 individuals were arrested and over 200 police officers had sustained injuries.

In the northwestern Paris suburb of Nanterre, armoured police vehicles ploughed through the remnants of flipped and torched cars, depicting the scale of destruction.

Simultaneously, protesters set fire to the city hall in the suburb of Clichy-sous-Bois and ignited a bus depot in Aubervilliers, amplifying the intensity of the protests.

🇫🇷 During the protests erupted throughout France Macron and his wife were having fun at the concert of Elton John. pic.twitter.com/k95cKeLthG

— Zlatti71 (@djuric_zlatko) June 30, 2023

While the city burned, Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were photographed backstage at the Accor Arena, where Elton John was performing.

The images quickly circulated on social media, drawing sharp criticism from the public.

Twitter user @CitizenFreePres said: "France is burning and Macron chose to relax at the Elton John concert in Paris."

User @TheMaineWire tweeted: "Crazy videos out of France as massive riots, looting, and arson spread across the country. Meanwhile, President Macron attended an Elton John concert."

The stark contrast between Macron's attendance at a concert and the escalating violence on the streets fuelled outrage.

Critics argued that his presence at the event displayed a lack of empathy and disconnectedness from the pressing issues facing the country.

Tuesday's killing was the third fatal shooting during traffic stops in France so far in 2023 down from a record 13 last year, a spokesperson for the national police said.

There were three such killings in 2021 and two in 2020, according to a Reuters tally, which shows the majority of victims since 2017 were Black or of Arab origin.

France's human rights ombudsman has opened an inquiry into the death, the sixth such inquiry into similar incidents in 2022 and 2023.