관광객 빠뜨리고 "돈 내놔"..14세 소년 만행 논란 / SBS 12시뉴스 / 월드리포트

A boy holding a water gun sprays water at people riding bicycles. He also recklessly blocks passing cars. This boy, named Hamza, is 14 years old and lives in Paris, France. Last month, as a heatwave exceeding 40 degrees Celsius persisted, the city of Paris permitted swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin, which had previously been banned. The area is usually frequented by many tourists, but once swimming was allowed, people flocked there. However, Hamza was caught on camera engaging in offensive behavior, such as shooting water guns at visitors and pushing them into the canal. He even pressured people to pay a 2-euro toll, claiming he would collect it. Hamza’s behavior did not stop and continued, earning him the nickname "La Douane," which means "customs" in French, due to the toll. Eventually, Hamza was apprehended by the police, but a video showing him swimming across the canal to escape from inside a police car was shared online, sparking controversy. French media reports covering Hamza flooded in, and even televised debates among experts followed regarding how the 14-year-old boy should be punished. Far-right groups criticized Hamza, who comes from an Algerian immigrant family, claiming that immigration policies have destabilized public safety in France, and the controversy escalated into an issue of racism. Hamza was arrested again by police earlier this month on charges of stealing a smartphone, but was released after just one day. As the heatwave subsided and the City of Paris switched to opening the canals once a week, and with fewer visitors to Saint-Martin, the controversy surrounding Hamza has somewhat calmed down. However, with a heatwave forecast again starting this weekend, it appears that the erratic behavior of the 14-year-old boy, who is effectively left unchecked, could reignite controversy at any time depending on whether the canal openings are expanded. (Video Editing: Kim Jong-tae, Source: X (@tropdecomtes)) #SBSNews #News #Realtime #SaintMartin #France #Heatwave #Minors #Immigrants #Racism #Controversy Copyright Ⓒ SBS. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use for AI learning are prohibited.