Clashes erupted between groups of protesters and police in Paris on Thursday, after a fire broke out at La Rotonde, Emmanuel Macron’s popular press. The 11th Day rally against pension reform brought together a little less people.
Departing from the Esplanade des Invalides towards Place l’Italie, the procession passed in front of the famous restaurant where the head of state celebrated his qualification for the second round of the 2017 presidential election.
That’s when a “group in black” stationed at the front of the demonstration “hurled projectiles” including “bottles, stones and firecrackers” at police who had deployed themselves to guard the brewery, an AFP journalist said. Police headquarters estimated the number of members in the group to be several hundred.
A fire broke out after a smoke bomb was hurled at a red awning. A woman inside the restaurant first tried to put out the fire with a fire extinguisher. The firemen were able to douse the fire as soon as they arrived.
A thousand elements at stake
Police headquarters lamented the ‘injuries among policemen’, but ‘the balance is not consolidated at this stage’.
As of 2:50 p.m., 1,330 pre-event tests had been conducted. 8 people have been arrested in this situation.
In Paris, “almost 500 yellow vests” were expected by intelligence, but “up to a thousand elements are at risk”.
Rights defender Claire Hédon, who has received ’90’ reports of police violence since the beginning of the protest movement, appeared with lawyers in the command room of police headquarters on Thursday.
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