'Vehicles have been set on fire using Molotov cocktails, and officers are running away, while firing tear gas cannisters at us.'Ī police spokesman said: 'Explosives are being used against us, and we are trying to bring the situation under control. 'Police have completely lost control,' said one of the demonstrators at Saint-Soline. They were protesting against the deployment of new water-storage centre, as well as President Emmanuel Macron pushing the retirement age up from 60 to 62 without a parliamentary vote. ![]() Thousands fought running battles with heavy armed officers at an illegal gathering on Saturday at Sainte-Soline, near Poitiers. The scenes today saw police vehicles set alight by a rampaging mob using Molotov cocktails. The violent scenes in Saite-Soline today came after days of violent protests nationwide over President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform that prompted the cancellation of a visit by King Charles III of the UK.Įleven people were already detained after police seized cold weapons, including petanque balls and meat knives, as well as explosives.Įarlier this week, Mr Darmanin accused anti-government thugs of 'trying to bring down the state and kill police officers.' More than 3,000 members of the security forces were deployed, with 'at least 1,000' potentially violent activists, including some from Italy, present, officials said. The prefecture which covers Sainte-Soline in western France meanwhile revealed that two protestors were 'in a very serious condition' after being wounded, while others were being treated at the scene.Ī long procession set off late this morning, comprising at least 6,000 people according to local authorities and around 25,000 according to the organisers. Three police vehicles were completely burned out, and multiple officers injured. ![]() France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin has said 'far-Left' rioters were using mortars to fire explosives at the police amid the intensified violence between security forces and protesters on Saturday.
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