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Kurds, anti-racism groups gather after Paris shooting

Renewed clashes broke out in Paris on Saturday between police and members of the Kurdish community angry at the killing on Friday of three members of their community. Several cars were overturned and small fires set alight near Republic Square, the traditional venue for demonstrations in the city where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest. Clashes broke out as some demonstrators left the square, throwing projectiles at police who responded with tear gas. The Associated Press has the story:

Kurds, anti-racism groups gather after Paris shooting

Newslooks- PARIS (AP)

Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups demonstrated Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack that prosecutors say was racially motivated.

Demonstrators turn over a car during a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

The shooting in a bustling neighborhood of central Paris also wounded three people, and stirred up concerns about hate crimes against minority groups at a time when far-right voices have gained prominence in France and around Europe in recent years.

Demonstrators throw stones toward police who fire tear gas to disperse them during a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

The suspected attacker was wounded and is in custody. He is a 69-year-old Parisian who was charged last year with attacking migrants and was released earlier this month. He is facing potential charges of murder and attempted murder with a racist motive, the Paris prosecutor’s office said Saturday.

Kurdish activist hold placards as the stage a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners. Placards reads from left to right, those who contemplate the Kurdish genocide are all accomplices, our vengeance will be the women’s revolution and nothing can stop the Kurdish march to freedom. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

Thousands gathered Saturday at the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris, waving a colorful spectrum of flags representing Kurdish rights groups, political parties and other causes. The gathering was largely peaceful, though some youths threw projectiles and skirmished with police firing tear gas. Some protesters shouted slogans against the Turkish government.

Kurdish activist and anti-racism group stage a protest holding Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, flag and pictures of the recent victimes of the shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

Most demonstrators were ethnic Kurds of varying generations who came together to mourn the three people who were killed, share concerns that they don’t feel safe, and ask how could this kind of attack happen in the center of Paris.

A demonstrator throw a stone during a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

The shooting shook the Kurdish community in the French capital and put police on extra alert for the Christmas weekend.

Kurdish activist and anti-racism group stage a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center, holding Kurdistan Workers Party, PKK, flag in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners. (AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

The Paris police chief met Saturday with members of the Kurdish community to try to allay their fears ahead of Saturday’s rally.

Demonstrators throw objects during a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

France’s Interior Ministry reported a 13% rise in race-related crimes or other violations in 2021 over 2019, after an 11% rise from 2018 to 2019. The ministry did not include 2020 in its statistics because of successive pandemic lockdowns that year. It said a disproportionate number of such crimes target people of African descent, and also cited hundreds of attacks based on religion.

A Kurdish activist holds wave a flag with the face of jailed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, leader Abdullah Ocalan during a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

Friday’s attack took place at the cultural center and a nearby Kurdish restaurant and Kurdish hair salon. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said the suspect was clearly targeting foreigners, and had acted alone and was not officially affiliated with any extreme-right or other radical movements. The suspect had past convictions for illegal arms possession and armed violence.

Demonstrators stand next to a burning barricade during a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

Kurdish activists said they had recently been warned by police of threats to Kurdish targets.

In 2013, three women Kurdish activists, including Sakine Cansiz, a founder of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, were found shot dead at a Kurdish center in Paris.

Mayor of Grigny Pascal Troadec walks in a cloud of tear gas during a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

Turkey’s army has been battling against Kurdish militants affiliated with the banned PKK in southeast Turkey as well as in northern Iraq. Turkey’s military also recently launched a series of air and artillery strikes against Syrian Kurdish militant targets in northern Syria.

A demonstrator throw a stone during a protest against the recent shooting at the Kurdish culture center in Paris, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022. Kurdish activists, left-wing politicians and anti-racism groups are holding a protest Saturday in Paris after three people were killed at a Kurdish cultural center in an attack aimed at foreigners.(AP Photo/Lewis Joly)

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