French Police Officers Detained Over Alleged Assault on Black Music Producer

The case is causing a major controversy in France. A video published on Thursday by the Loopsider website, and widely circulated on social media, shows a black man, Michel Zecler, being beaten by police officers in front of the entrance to a music studio in the 17th arrondissement of Paris. This was on Saturday, November 21. "I was told ’dirty nigger’ several times while being punched," the producer said.

The four police officers were suspended from their duties on Thursday, and are expected at the IGPN premises to explain themselves, give their version of the images that were circulated. But it must be said that the video shocked many people. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin even declared on Thursday evening that he would request the "dismissal" of the police officers involved, "as soon as the facts are established by justice". He accused them of having "stained the uniform of the Republic".

This case could have turned to the advantage of the police, as the beaten producer was initially placed in police custody for an investigation opened by the Paris prosecutor’s office for "violence against a person holding public authority" and "rebellion". But in view of the latest developments, the Paris prosecutor’s office has closed this investigation and opened a new procedure for "violence by persons holding public authority" and "forgery in public writing", entrusted to the Inspection générale de la police nationale (IGPN).