France chaos: Police and protesters clash after man's death – Macron under pressure

Shocking images show demonstrators setting up barricades to keep police out of the western French city of Nantes, which is engulfed in flames as protesters trigger fires scattered around the region. Mr Macron is now facing increased pressure to intervene as hundreds of protesters express their fury over the death of 22-year-old Steve Maia Canico, who drowned following a police operation at a music festival. Interior minister Christophe Castaner said “all the truth will be known” about the tragedy following an administrative inquiry and a judicial investigation.

Mr Canico’s body was found last week after he was reported missing.

The music fan was found in the Loire River after police intervention when a festival in the area grew out of control.

Mr Castaner said there were “some questions about the use of tear gas”.

But French prime minister Edouard Philippe said no link could be made between the police operation on 22 June and his death.

Festival participants were outraged with the response and disagreed.

They claim police fired tear gas to disperse he crowd, which caused people to fall into the adjacent river.

Up to 14 people had to be pulled out of the water and rescued.

Violence in the area sparkled a major security crackdown, but the situation is once again getting out of control as protesters gather around memorials for Mr Canico.

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State representative Claude d’Harcourt said police are now preparing for “maximum risk” following intelligence yesterday night that some demonstrators had threatened to “steal the moment of emotion” of the gatherings.

This has since become a reality with shocking images of tables and chairs engulfed in flames and water cannons being used in another attempt to calm the situation.

A large memorial of Mr Canico was painted onto a building showing him in front of French military and armed police.

Despite the hashtag #whereisSteve making its way into nearly every one of Mr Macron’s social media posts in replies from French citizens, he is yet to make any response to the nation.

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Up to 89 people have since filed complaints against French authorities for “putting other people’s life and security in danger”.

Cecile de Oliveira, the Lawyer for Mr Canico’s family, said his relatives are furious about the situation.

She said: “Their grief is damaged by the fact that Steve is being treated as a major political issue.”

She added that his family wants his memory to be respected as a “nonviolent and modest young man”.