For the past week, France has been in the grips of nationwide violent protests that rocked the country after a policeman killed a 17-year-old boy. The teenager, identified as Nahel, was shot dead at a traffic stop. The death triggered widespread outrage as years of allegations of racial bias against Arabs and other ethnic groups roused the youth. The protests turned into riots and hundreds of cars and buildings were burnt, police personnel were attacked, shops and businesses were burnt and looted, and a mayor's house was attacked. ?