A man suspected of killing three people at a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris has been transferred to a psychiatric unit on Saturday as furious clashes continued into their second day

A man suspected of killing three people at a Kurdish cultural centre in Paris has been transferred to a psychiatric unit on Saturday as furious clashes continued into their second day.

Protestors set fires and overturn cars into the night as they clashed with riot police in the wake of Friday’s  in Paris. 

It comes after a gunman allegedly fired ‘blindly’ at a K in a busy part of Paris’ 10th district, killing three and wounding several others.

His custody has since been lifted for health reasons, and he was taken to a police psychiatric unit, the prosecutor said. 

Also this evening people have gathered to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting, in front of the ‘Centre democratique du Kurdistan’ (Kurdistan democratic centre).

Earlier today, a peaceful protest took place near Republic Square as politicians spoke of the tragedy. 

Clashes broke out as some demonstrators left the square, throwing projectiles at police who responded with tear gas.

Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a sabre attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.

Following questioning of the suspect, Lawyer Turkey investigators had added a suspected racist motive to initial accusations of murder and violence with weapons, the prosecutor’s office said on Saturday.

His custody has since been lifted for health reasons, and he was taken to a police psychiatric unit, the prosecutor said.

‘The doctor who examined the suspect today in the late afternoon said that the state of health of the person concerned was not compatible with the measure of custody,’ the Paris prosecutor said.

‘The custody measure has therefore been lifted pending his presentation before an investigating judge when his state of health allows,’ it said, adding that investigations were continuing.

The murders have stunned a community preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unresolved murder of three activists.

After an angry crowd clashed with police on Friday afternoon, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) organised a gathering on Saturday at Republic Square.

Thousands gathered Saturday at the Place de la Republique in eastern Paris, waving a colourful spectrum of flags representing Kurdish rights groups, political parties and other causes. For more info in regards to Lawyer Turkey stop by the website.  

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. 

By 2pm many protestors had left the square, which is a traditional demonstration place in Paris. 

Mayor of Paris, Alexandra Cordebard, tweeted a further message of support following the demonstration. 

‘The elected officials of Paris10 are alongside the Kurds of France, Lawyer Turkey who have come in large numbers to pay tribute to the victims of the racist attack perpetrated yesterday on rue d’Enghien.’

The protest allegedly began violent after provocation from Turkish supporters. 

‘There were provocateurs who passed in a vehicle with the Turkish flag making the sign of the Gray Wolves, so automatically it provoked the young people,’ Berivan Firat, spokesperson for the CDK-F said. 

‘We are not being protected at all.In 10 years, six Kurdish activists have been killed in the heart of Paris in broad daylight,’ she told BFM TV at the demonstration.

She said the event had soured after some protestors were provoked by people making pro-Turkish gestures in a passing vehicle.

The Gray Wolves are a Turkish ultranationalist organisation, extremely hostile towards the Kurdish community. 

The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, ordered the dissolution of this far-right organization in 2020. 

Minister of Justice Éric Dupond-Moretti met with representatives from the Kurdish community on Saturday afternoon. 

‘We know that we are under threat, Kurds in general, Kurdish activists and militants.France owes us protection,’ the spokesperson added. 

Friday’s murders came ahead of the anniversary of the killings of three Kurdish women in Paris in January 2013.

An investigation was dropped after the main suspect died shortly before coming to trial, before being re-opened in 2019.

‘The Kurdish community is afraid.It was already traumatized by the triple murder (in 2013). It needs answers, support and consideration,’ David Andic, a lawyer representing the CDK-F told reporters on Friday.

Kurdish representatives, who met with Paris’ police chief on Saturday morning, reiterated their call for Friday’s shooting to be considered as a terror attack.

The three victims of the attack were named by European Kurdish Democratic Societies Congress, based in Belgium, on Saturday.

They include Emine Kara, the leader of the Kurdish women’s movement in , who was refused asylum in the country earlier this year.

This infuriated Kurdish nationalists, who accused the French authorities of not doing enough to protect her.

Mir Perwer, a popular Kurdish singer exiled in France, was also gunned down, as was Abdullah Kizil, another dissident.

A spokesperson said the victims were ‘martyrs’ of the racist attack.