In France Violent things happened Clashes between black bloc and police at Sainte-Soline reservoir under construction, in the western department of Deux-Sèvres. Thousands of people demonstrated without permission against the reservoir project, which is being carried out by a farmers’ cooperative and supported by the state. A group of black blocks began throwing objects at officers, who responded with tear gas. According to the organizers of the demonstration, they stayed wounded at least fifty protesters (three serious) and sixteen agents (one seriously). Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin spoke instead of 24 injured gendarmes and 7 demonstrators. An agent and a protester would be in serious condition.
The procession and the clashes – A long procession began marching late Saturday morning. According to the prefecture, at least 6,000 demonstrators were present, while the collective of environmental groups that organized the protest, “Bassines non merci”, spoke of 25,000 present. Some protesters then began throwing Molotov cocktails and stones, as well as mortars and firecrackers. According to reports from Saint-Soline, a photographer was injured and at least three gendarmerie vehicles were set on fire. The clashes began when the procession arrived near the construction site of the reservoir and was blocked by the police cordon. Groups tried to break through the blockade preventing entry by attacking the agents with long iron bars.
French interior minister: “Extreme, unspeakable violence” Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin tweeted: “In Sainte-Soline the ultra-left and extreme left are using extreme violence against our gendarmes. Unspeakable, unbearable. Nobody should tolerate this. Full support for our police.”