They came in convoys from all over France and camped at the gates of the capital. Thousands of opponents of the vaccine pass took to the road again on Saturday morning to enter Paris and demonstrate, despite the ban from the police headquarters, determined to prevent any blockage. During the morning, 500 vehicles were intercepted and the prefecture announces more than 200 verbalizations in total.
According to France Bleu estimates between 1,900 and 2,500 vehicles were heading for the capital on Friday, 3,000 according to information from franceinfo.
500 vehicles intercepted
Security forces are intercepting a self-proclaimed “freedom convoy” consisting of 450 vehicles at Porte de Saint-Cloud in Paris, the Paris police headquarters announced on Twitter, “the forces of order carry out verbalizations“.
The Paris police headquarters already announced on Twitter that 30 vehicles were intercepted this Saturday morning by the police at Porte de Champerret in Paris and 20 at Porte Maillot, as they tried to enter the capital. And the verbalizations are in progress.
Two demonstrators have also just been arrested Place Denfert-Rochereau in Paris. They had, in their possession, cans of gasoline, hammers and knives, says the Paris police headquarters. The safety device is “strengthened near the Champs Elysées. Law enforcement is ready to intervene“indicates the Paris police headquarters.
At 6 a.m., 95 verbalizations
Nearly 7,200 police and gendarmes “are deployed over the next three days to enforce vehicle convoy bans“, according to the Prefecture of Police, which indicates on Twitter that it proceeded, at 6 a.m. this Saturday, to 95 verbalisations.
Including 15 vehicles this night in the 16th arrondissement in Paris at the level of the Bois de Boulogne. The police also fined 40 vehicles at Porte d’Orléans.and quickly put an end to the group of demonstrators who were trying to cross the ring road“. An interception device has also been set up at the gate of Bagnolet and Pantin “where a procession of vehicles advanced in Paris“, adds the Paris police headquarters.
The prefect of police Didier Lallement warned, he “created a certain number of temporary pounds which (…) will allow with several tens of towing vehicles of put an end to any blockage“, he said. Gendarmerie armored vehicles have also been deployed in the capital, a first since the demonstrations of “yellow vests” at the end of 2018.
A “call for calm”
Prime Minister Jean Castex promised toto be inflexible in the face of movement. “If they block traffic or if they try to block the capital, you have to be very firm“, he insisted on France 2. The movement was formed on the model of the mobilization which paralyzes the Canadian capital Ottawa and brings together French people who are indignant at the rising cost of living and oppose to the vaccination pass.
Emmanuel Macron called this Friday evening “in the greatest calm“ as convoys of vehicles converge and head towards Paris. The Head of State also indicated “hear and respect” the “fatigue” and “anger” related to the health crisis.
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