Meet Dennis Le Menace’s modern incarnation.
In recent weeks, a 14-year-old boy has been causing a stir among French tourists and drivers, allegedly in pursuit of viral fame and playful mischief. He portrays himself as the latest must-see in Paris, much to the dismay of those seeking a peaceful visit.
Identified as Hamza F. and dubbing himself “Hamza La Douane” or “Customs Officer Hamza,” this audacious youngster has been apprehended numerous times for his disruptive antics along the picturesque Saint-Martin Canal since June 27, as reported by French newspaper Le Parisien.
With temperatures soaring across Europe during a severe heatwave, Hamza armed himself with a water gun and requested €2, equivalent to $2.29, from motorists for the privilege of being sprayed. His unusual demands have alarmed locals and tourists alike.
Drawing inspiration from corrupt customs practices in his homeland, Algeria, the frequently shirtless Hamza devised this self-appointed toll scheme. However, his antics have not been well received by his unwitting victims.
“In Algeria … when you pay the customs officers, they don’t search you … you can go on,” the boy the outlet “I’ve got the same idea.”
Hamza has found joy in his antics and has given little afterthought for his victims.
“Most of the time, I don’t apologize, I spray and I run away,” he said.
In another stunt, Hamza was captured on video shoving a bikini-clad woman into the canal as she was sunbathing.
Additional instances Hamza has gone viral for on social media include riding on an electric scooter with a stolen bar chair attached, throwing a chair into the canal, stealing a can of soda and spraying water at a police officer.
In another disturbing video, Hamza allegedly broke into a woman’s apartment and recorded himself insulting her.
“And the leftists talk about a nice boy who only does water fights at the Canal Saint-Martin… How long are we going to tolerate the actions of this scum?” French National Assembly member Julien Odoul asked on X.
The teen has been arrested at least twice in recent weeks.
He was busted for vandalism and group violence during his first arrest on June 27.
Four days later, police cuffed the teen and took him to jail on charges of aggravated theft, insulting officers, and resisting arrest, according to Le Figaro.
He was among three suspects who were captured when approximately 20 people were accused of stealing a phone before fleeing from officers.
Hamza allegedly laughed at his jailing, saying he can cool off in the air conditioning.
When not in police custody, the minor splits his time living with his mother and father in their separate houses around Paris
Hamza’s unidentified father has all but given his son his blessing to do what he wants, claiming the antics “doesn’t hurt anyone,” while leaving his mother in the dark.
“He leaves me alone because he knows I’m not doing anything bad. All I do is water people and the police from time to time. My mother doesn’t know about it,” Hamza told CNews, according to The Times.
Socialist and pro-Palestinian lawyer Elsa Marcel was hired to defend Hamza in his latest arrest, claiming the teen has been the “target of harassment, racist insults, and threats.”
“For several days, Hamza F., a13-year-old boy, has been the victim of a torrent of racist hatred following a media offensive initiated by far-right figures and then widely amplified,” Marcel said in a press release on Thursday. “A child’s water fights and games have thus become, in the space of a few hours, a national controversy.”
The far-left attorney claimed her minor client is the victim, failing to address any of the subjects in Hamza’s stunts.
“Called ‘scum’ and ‘thug,’ massively insulted and harassed. Hamza is now the target of hostile messages, threats and posts that violate his dignity on social media. This campaign has also exposed his family who have been publicly singled out and attacked,” she said.
Marcel threatened to file complaints against anyone who had insulted the teen.
Odoul blasted Hamza’s parents and French law for allowing the teen to continue his antics.
“In a normal world, the authorities would already have contacted Hamza’s parents and threatened to suspend their welfare benefits,” Odoubl said, according to The Times. “But in France, this young person quickly understands that there is no one to stop him: not parents, or the authorities or the police or the criminal justice system.”