Groups of young people have clashed with French police in Nantes after a 22-year-old man was shot dead by an officer during a police check.

Cars were burned, petrol bombs were thrown, a shopping centre was set alight and a library and several buildings were damaged in the Breil neighbourhood of Nantes in the early hours of Wednesday, before the break of dawn.

The police watchdog has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the man’s shooting. Johanna Rolland, the Socialist mayor of Nantes, called for clarity on the death and said any investigation must take place independently and with full transparency.

The local police chief, Jean-Christophe Bertrand, said the incident happened at 8.30 pm when police stopped a car.

The identity of the driver was unclear and officers received orders to bring the driver to the police station, he added. The driver then reversed his car, hit and slightly injured a police officer.

Police chief, Bertrand added:  "One of his colleagues then fired, hitting the young man, who unfortunately died."

Police sources confirmed the man was wounded during a police check after he “refused to comply” with officers’ requests.