Water Gun "Tolls" and Chaos in Paris: Why a 14-Year-Old Boy Has the City in an Uproar

00:00 Intro
00:17 'La Douane' of Canal Saint-Martin, 14-year-old Hamza
02:15 "The police station is cool because of the air conditioning"
02:57 Immigration debate and parents step in
04:13 Is 14-year-old Hamza a 'juvenile offender'?

This is Paris. The city is currently in an uproar over a 14-year-old boy named Hamza. It is best to start by looking at the video.

1. 'La Douane' of Canal Saint-Martin, 14-year-old Hamza
The boy you see now is Hamza. He sprays water guns at people riding bicycles and even at police officers as a prank. He also runs into the road to block passing cars and causes disturbances. He even pushed a woman sitting by the water, causing her to fall in. This location is the Canal Saint-Martin, a quite famous tourist spot in Paris. As Paris suffered from a heatwave exceeding 40°C (104°F), the city opened the Canal Saint-Martin for swimming. As people flocked to the area, the boy named Hamza began pranking people and causing discomfort at the canal. Beyond causing disturbances and inconveniencing others, he even demanded 2 euros from people, claiming it was a "toll." If they did not pay, he would spray them with his water gun, committing acts that were far from pleasant for the victims. He became increasingly famous on social media, and people even gave him the nickname "La Douane," which means "customs" in French, referring to his act of extorting tolls. Hamza, who is active on TikTok and Instagram, seemed to crave this fame and continued to cause trouble. He was eventually caught by the police, but footage of him escaping from a police car and swimming away through the canal also went viral. Paris has become even more chaotic because of Hamza. News stations even broadcast live from Canal Saint-Martin to report on the situation in real time. Various media outlets have poured out articles. The French, who love a good debate, even aired programs where experts gathered to discuss how to handle the boy. Hamza’s fame spread beyond France to Germany, the UK, and Switzerland, making "Canal Saint-Martin La Douane" a hot topic in Europe.

2. "The police station is cool because of the air conditioning"
Hamza, the French "La Douane," was eventually detained in a police holding cell on June 27. He was held on charges including destroying restaurant property but was released after one day. He then returned to the Canal Saint-Martin and stood in front of news cameras, mockingly joking that the holding cell was cool because of the air conditioning. Paris became even more stirred up. A heated debate ensued, ranging from arguments that it is natural to release a 14-year-old to outrage over how such a child could be set free. While he remained in the spotlight, he was caught by the police again. This time, he was charged with participating in the theft of a mobile phone along with several others. He was apprehended on July 1, but was released that same day due to insufficient evidence.

3. Immigration debate and parents step in
People began looking for Hamza’s parents. They questioned why they were leaving a child who causes such public discomfort and seeks attention in this way to his own devices. Eventually, his parents stepped in. In a media interview, Hamza’s parents claimed that Hamza had done nothing wrong and had not harmed anyone. They defended his actions, saying that spraying water guns was just a childish prank. However, the problem had already grown too large. Because Hamza is from an Algerian immigrant family, the issue became entangled with one of the most sensitive triggers in France: immigration and racial discrimination. The right wing framed the 14-year-old’s behavior as a failure of immigration policy. Some even argued that the child benefits paid to Hamza’s parents should be revoked and that they should be held liable for damages. When Hamza appears on social media, the comment sections are filled with racially discriminatory remarks. The left wing argues for understanding the characteristics of adolescence and cautions against relying solely on punishment. They also state that framing this as an issue of racism and immigration policy is excessive. Ultimately, earlier this month, the parents filed a criminal complaint with the police because the personal attacks against Hamza had become too severe.

4. Is 14-year-old Hamza a 'juvenile offender'?
You may have one question here: Is 14-year-old Hamza considered a juvenile offender in France? The conclusion is no. In South Korea, those under 14 are classified as juvenile offenders who are exempt from criminal punishment and do not have a criminal record. In France, this applies to those under 13. Since Hamza is 14, he is subject to punishment. However, he is not treated like an adult; his case goes through a juvenile court. While he is subject to punishment, there is a strong emphasis on educational and rehabilitative measures. Furthermore, it is said that cases referred to court take longer than in a regular adult court. Even if Hamza’s charges are proven and he is punished, it appears it will take a significant amount of time. The right wing is taking issue with this as well, arguing that not only immigration issues but also juvenile crimes must be handled more strictly. There are voices in South Korea calling for the reform of the juvenile offender system, and it is the same here. The opening of the Canal Saint-Martin due to the heatwave exceeding 40°C (104°F) brought a 14-year-old boy named Hamza into the spotlight, and the issue has ignited debates that go beyond immigration and welfare policies to the very core of juvenile crime punishment. Now that the weather has cooled down slightly, the Canal Saint-Martin is only open once a week. As the number of visitors has decreased, the issue surrounding Hamza has subsided somewhat. However, because these highly volatile issues are all centered around a 14-year-old boy, they appear capable of flaring up again at any moment.

Reported by Kwon Yeongin | Produced by Shin Heesook | Video by Kim Sinae | Video Editing by Na Honghee | Graphics by Yang Hyemin | Source: X(@tropdecomtes), X(@AldousHuxIey), X(@DestinationTele), X(@RafaelSereti), Tik Tok(@Lecinphile93), YouTube 'C à vous - France Télévisions' | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.