Paris: Adama Traoré's brother tried amid electric atmosphere for assaulting police officers

Ysoufou Traoré stood trial in Paris on Thursday, facing charges of assaulting and insulting police officers during a banned demonstration. The July 2023 protest was held in memory of his brother, Adama Traoré, and occurred in a charged atmosphere following the death of Nahel and subsequent riots.

"It's a lie, they lied. At no time did I hit a police officer," Traoré, 32, declared in court. He claims he was the victim of violence during his arrest, sustaining a broken nose and requiring 10 days of medical leave. He has filed a complaint with the IGPN, which has since been dismissed.

The prosecution alleges Traoré insulted a police commissioner and struck another officer during the demonstration before violently resisting arrest. Video evidence is being scrutinized by the judges. The commissioner testified that Traoré was "immediately aggressive" and used offensive language, which Traoré denies.

Regarding the alleged assault on another officer, Traoré stated that a hand movement captured on bodycam footage during a crowd surge was not a punch but an attempt to move forward without striking anyone. Police apprehended him near Gare de l'Est after the protest dispersed, with videos showing officers tackling him as he struggled.