More than 160,000 protest in France against stricter pandemic rules

Paris (dpa), 24 July, 2021 – Around 161,000 people protested in Paris and several other cities in France on Saturday, objecting to new regulations introduced to contain the coronavirus pandemic, even as case numbers rise.   Some 11,000 people demonstrated in Paris, according to the Franceinfo television channel, citing the Interior Ministry.

There were scuffles on the edges of the protest in Paris near the Champs-Elysees, which police quelled with tear gas and water cannons, images showed on television.  Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin criticized violence directed against the police and journalists in a tweet and said nine people had been arrested. Last week, some 114,000 people nationwide took to the streets to protest against the measures, the ministry said.