Riot police confront banned anti-police
protest in Paris
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[February 23, 2017]
PARIS (Reuters) - Hundreds of
high-school students protested in Paris over police use of force on
Thursday, blocking the entrances to a dozen schools before heading to a
banned street rally where riot police turned out in large numbers.
The protest was the latest of several, many in northern suburbs of
Paris, since a 22-year-old black man was allegedly raped with a police
baton during a Feb. 2 arrest in an area north of the capital where large
numbers of immigrants live.
It comes two months before a presidential election where far-right
leader Marine Le Pen, leader of the anti-immigrant National Front party,
is tipped to win the first round but lose the runoff that takes place on
May 7.
The Paris school authority said more than 10 schools were affected by
youths who piled up rubbish bins and other objects at the entrance
gates; but it had no reports of violence at the premises.
Social media networks, however, showed signs of skirmishes on the
fringes of what appeared to be a largely peaceful rally in the Place de
la Nation square in the east of the capital, where riot police in
protective gear advanced on groups of mostly-hooded youths in sidestreet
confrontations.
A helicopter flew overhead.
The Paris police department had warned people to stay away from a
protest, saying it was not authorized and that there was a risk of
violent groups causing trouble, as had happened over the last three
weeks.
Four police officers have been suspended pending an inquiry into the
Feb. 2 incident. One has been placed under formal investigation for
suspected rape and three others for unnecessary use of force.
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A demonstrator holds up a placard which says "Justice for Theo" to
protest against police brutality after a young black man,
22-year-old youth worker named Theo, was severely injured during his
arrest earlier this month in Bobigny, as people gather at a
demonstration in Paris, France, February 18, 2017. REUTERS/Charles
Platiau
So far the protests have not snowballed to the extent of the unrest
that 12 years ago drew global attention to the stark contrast
between wealthy Paris and the suburbs that surround it.
The victim of the arrest that sparked the latest protests had a
visit from President Francois Hollande earlier this month after
being hospitalised for treatment of wounds to his anus and head and
has called for calm. His family have said they have faith in the
justice system.
(Writing by Brian Love; additional reporting by Jean-Baptiste Vey)
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