Police use tear gas against ‘Convoy of Freedom’ in central Paris, situation remains tense | Convoy of Freedom

Read all about the “Convoy of Freedom” in this dossier.

Thousands of motorists have been on the road from all over France since Friday, although the action was banned by police. More than 7,000 police officers are active in the French capital to avoid blockades. The Paris police had already handed out 283 fines to participants of the freedom convoys around 11.20 am and it will not stop there. The police tweeted that they had arrested 14 people and issued 337 fines. Five people were arrested for carrying catapults and protective equipment. Two other people had, among other things, bottles with petrol, hammers and knives.

The police fired tear gas on the Champs-Elysées in Paris at demonstrators of the so-called ‘Freedom Convoy’, who are protesting against the corona measures. The demonstrators tried to paralyze traffic around the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysées. Police intervened when protesters did not respond to an order to continue and some protesters climbed onto their cars at the roundabout at the Arc-de-Triomphe. The police also used tow trucks to remove vehicles.

The demonstrators say they want to demonstrate with “a mass of vehicles” in Paris, so that the security forces cannot stop them. They protest against the vaccination pass, which is needed in France to gain access to restaurants and cinemas, among other things. They are also against the loss of purchasing power and high energy prices. There are also many yellow vests among the demonstrators.

Prime Minister Jean Castex previously promised to take very strict action against the demonstrators. The activists have also called for people to go to Brussels on Monday, but the protest is not allowed in our country either.

More than 32,000 people took to the streets across France in 149 protests today. They expressed their dissatisfaction with the corona policy, the Ministry of the Interior has announced.

Watch below how the atmosphere became increasingly grim in Paris during a live connection with VTM NEWS journalist Birgit Herteleer:

The protest is not limited to France and Paris. Several truckers arrived this morning in The Hague, the ‘political capital of the Netherlands’, to protest against the corona measures. According to the public broadcaster NOS, they are blocking access to the Binnenhof, the Dutch parliament.

The police of The Hague reports that the trucks are on the Buitenhof, a square next to the Binnenhof. The officers are talking to the drivers. According to NOS, there are about twenty trucks at the Binnenhof, which is closed on both sides. There are also cars in the area with Dutch, Brabant and Frisian flags.

The mayor of The Hague has canceled the unannounced trucker demonstration of Freedom Convoy Netherlands. The police ordered the demonstrators to leave. Anyone who does not comply with this risks arrest and a fine, according to the municipality of The Hague. Costs of towing vehicles may also be charged. The protesters say they do not intend to end their action, they have already announced on their Telegram account.

Action will be taken against ignoring police instructions and violating traffic rules. According to a police spokeswoman, the city must remain accessible, but there is indeed traffic disruption due to the protests. For example, various tram and bus lines are being diverted.

The truckers participate in the so-called ‘Freedom Convoy Netherlands’, following the example of other freedom convoys following the Canadian example. Protesters are said to be on their way from several provinces in the country.

The federal and Brussels police call on Monday to avoid the area in and around Brussels due to the expected ‘freedom convoy’ in protest against the corona measures. The convoys, which are expected in and around Brussels from tomorrow evening, are likely to cause major traffic disruption.

The police say that the freedom convoy, which wants to demonstrate in Brussels on Monday 14 February, is banned. Drivers who nevertheless want to demonstrate can go to car park C of the Heysel. There will be an action tolerated. It is therefore better to avoid the Brussels capital and the ring road around Brussels on Monday, the police said. If you have no other choice, it is best to take public transport.

Police have begun lifting the blockade of the Ambassador Bridge in the Canadian border town of Windsor. A Canadian judge ruled Friday that the bridge connecting the US state of Michigan with the Canadian province of Ontario must be released. Shortly after the deadline, more demonstrators had arrived.

“We ask all protesters to act in a legal and peaceful manner,” the police said on Twitter. She also called on people to stay away. Dozens of police officers and vehicles arrived on the scene just after 8 a.m. (2 p.m. Belgian time). There are about fifty demonstrators on the bridge in their pick-up trucks and lorries. They moved towards the demonstrators around 8.30 am, according to the public broadcaster CBC. Some protesters left immediately, others remained at post.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa last night that “these illegal activities must stop” and that “all options” are being kept open. He emphasized that the possible deployment of military personnel is a “last resort” that “must be avoided at all costs”. The prime minister could not indicate when the blockade would be lifted, “because we unfortunately fear violence”.

The truckers with their so-called freedom convoy have been blocking the bridge on the important trade route between Ontario and Michigan since Monday, as well as two other important crossings. The blockade causes problems, especially in the car industry, because the supply of parts comes to a standstill.