Huge protests in Paris commenced after a young man named Theo was brutally assaulted by four police officers in Aulnay-sous-Bois, according to BFMTV.
Theo, who’s 22 years old, was about to meet some of his friends when he was cornered by the police officers to perform an identity check. BFMTV managed to get the confession tape of the victim detailing what happened during the incident, which lasted for ten minutes.
Theo told his lawyers, “I knew that where we were there were no cameras, I managed to struggle, I left in front of the cameras. I did not try to flee.
Theo continued, “I told the policemen, 'You tore my bag.’ They replied, ‘We do not give a damn.’ There were three of them to seize me. I asked them, ‘Why did you do that?’ They didn’t answer me. They said insults.”
Theo also told the lawyers that one of the officers hurt him “voluntarily” by pushing the truncheon into his anus. The injury required Theo to be immediately operated after his questionable arrest.
Theo said, “He looked at me… I could see what he was doing behind me. He pulled out his truncheon and thrusted it into my anus voluntarily. He told me to put my hands in the back. They put handcuffs on me and told me to ‘sit down now.’ I said, ‘I can’t sit down…’”
He continued, “They used tear gas in my head, mouth, a blow with a truncheon in the head, and I had so much sore in my butt that the pain seemed ephemeral… It was really too hard for me.”
Theo then said that the officers attempted to take him out of the camera’s view. However, a local resident intervened and asked them what they were planning to do with the victim. The officers took Theo in the vehicle and to the police station.
Theo said, “I had difficulty walking. I was not even myself. I thought I was going to die. I only managed to walk because they were holding me firmly.”
The brutality continued while they were in the car. He took in more battery, mockery, and insults. He claimed that officers used racial slurs against him, such as ‘bamboula.’
Theo testified that one of the officers noticed that he was bleeding. However, this only made them mock him ever worse. He was again asked to sit down. He responded firmly that he couldn’t sit down. So, they made him lie down instead. The police finally called the SAMU, or the medical services.
Theo said, “The medic turned over to me. He looked at the wound and told me that it’s very serious. There was at least 5 or 6 centimeters of opening and it has to be operated as soon as possible.”
He continued, “The medic said I lost a lot of blood. The blow of the stick in the butt that they did to me will mark me for life. It is something that I wish to happen to nobody.”
Theo added, “Physically, I’m very weak. I can’t move. It has been three hours and I’m still suffering. I can’t sleep at night.”
Theo’s sister spoke with BFMTV and gave an update concerning her brother. Theo’s sister said, “He works with young people. He is always smiling, always laughing, always making jokes. You can ask everyone where we live, he is known for his good mood and his kindness.
She continued, “Doctors can’t say today what longstanding consequences he faces. We should wait two months, at least two months.
“Today he has a bag – we are hearing a lot of things, especially regarding incontinence, so… We can’t say that he is doing well and he is in a rather critical condition.”
Eric Dupond-Moretti, Theo’s lawyer, had already called on judicial authorities to bring forth the consequences to the officer and the other three suspects. All four officers had been suspended. One of them was already charged with aggravated rape while the rest of them was charged with aggravated assault.
Aulnay-sous-Bois has a large minority community, according to Metro. In 2005, it was regarded as one of the worst suburban areas. Residents of the area consistently claimed that police are generally racist and abusive. The area was also riddled with job loss, expensive rents, and insecurity.
