A peaceful protest in Paris has once again escalated into violent clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers. The epicenter of the confrontation was Boulevard Voltaire in the French capital, where dozens of fully equipped police officers lined up in several ranks in front of the crowd of protesters, after which the situation intensified, reports infohub.kz.
Later, the security forces moved in: officers ran at the demonstrators, actively swinging batons. Dozens of objects were thrown at the police, and barricades were erected on the road. As a result of the harsh police actions, several participants were knocked off their feet — by direct blows or as a result of physical collision with the running ranks of law enforcement officers. The injured ended up on the ground.
Amid the events, the Eiffel Tower was closed. Shops in Paris are boarding up their windows, and students are blocking the entrances to lycées ahead of a large-scale demonstration. In Lyon, police used tear gas against protesters, with reports of injuries.
So far, no official information has been received from the Paris police prefecture on the number of detentions or the exact cause of the escalation of the conflict. Emergency services continue to work at the scene.
Recall that in late September, France was swept by protests by high school students. Recently in Paris, spontaneous protests took place ahead of a major student demonstration, one of which ended in clashes with police and the use of tear gas. It later became known that the French authorities made concessions to high school students, but they remain dissatisfied and promise to continue protesting. Following France, where unrest has continued throughout October, disturbances have spread to Spain, Italy, Albania and Portugal.