Riots Erupt in Lausanne Over Migrant Teen Death, Police Racism Accusations

Violent riots erupted in Lausanne, Switzerland, following the death of 17-year-old migrant Marvin M, who died after crashing a stolen scooter while fleeing police. The unrest, marked by Molotov cocktails, fireworks, and burning barricades, lasted for two nights and involved clashes between masked youths—many of migrant background—and police using tear gas and rubber bullets. The incident intensified long-standing tensions over allegations of systemic racism in the Lausanne police force, highlighted by the recent suspension of four officers over racist and discriminatory WhatsApp messages. The city has seen multiple deaths involving police in recent years, mostly affecting men of African origin, raising concerns of structural racism and police culture issues in the canton of Vaud. Local authorities, including Lausanne’s Socialist mayor, have acknowledged systemic discrimination and promised reforms to rebuild trust, but the violence has also drawn in more radical groups seeking to escalate unrest. Experts warn that further violence may occur as pressure groups exploit the situation, with police preparing for potentially harsher confrontations in coming days.