Hundreds of protests expected across France, with shops, businesses and tourist sites closed – Europe live
Özet haber: The mood in Paris was heightened by fear and horror after what the government said was “racist, terrorist attack” in two towns west of the city on Friday. A 26-year-old, well-respected martial arts star from a club outside Paris was killed and five other people were injured, including a 12-year-old girl shot eight times as a gunman pointed an automatic weapon from his car.
The mood in Paris was heightened by fear and horror after what the government said was “racist, terrorist attack” in two towns west of the city on Friday. A 26-year-old, well-respected martial arts star from a club outside Paris was killed and five other people were injured, including a 12-year-old girl shot eight times as a gunman pointed an automatic weapon from his car.
The president Emmanuel Macron said they were targeted because of the colour of their skin. “These people were targeted because of their skin color or perceived religion, and for no other reason,” he said during his visit to Trappes, one of the affected towns, on Friday afternoon. “There is no place for this in France.” “There are no words,” wrote the sports club of the 26-year-old victim, the ATCH Academy.
“Nothing could justify a life being torn away like this.”
Several of France’s left-wing political leaders have already shown up at the rallies in Orleans protesting against Marine Le Pen and her anti-immigrant party. The demonstrations against “racism, fascism and imperialism” are being held as the National Rally’s congress takes place this weekend and Le Pen launches her presidential campaign.
“It was important for me to come here to Orléans,” said Bally Bagayok, the mayor of Saint-Denis, saying he was there to stand up against racism and the hate speech spread by the right. He also directly referenced the “close link” between hateful rhetoric from parties like Le Pen’s, and the drive-by shooting outside of Paris on Friday morning which appeared to be targeting people of African origin.
Socialist party leader, Olivier Faure, has also been seen in the crowds, marching behind an “All united against fascism” banner.
Tension was also high in the city of Orléans on Saturday as Marine Le Pen’s far-right, anti-immigration National Rally party gathers for its annual congress and the official launch of her presidential campaign. The police presence in the city has been stepped up as around 5,000 party members and officials gather on Saturday and 10,000 attend Le Pen’s first campaign rally on Sunday.
A protest march by the left has been organised against “racism, fascism and imperialism”. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people are expected to demonstrate against the far right in the city.
Several political personalities on the left were to attend the Orléans march including the leader of the Socialist party, Olivier Faure, the head of the leftwing CGT union, Sophie Binet, and the mayor of Saint-Denis, Bally Bagayoko, from the party La France Insoumise.
The capital’s authorities have shut down the stations in a bid to contain crowds and curb movement throughout the city today. The affected stations are: Argentine, Assemblée Nationale, Bel Air, Champs-Elysées – Clemenceau, Charles de Gaulle – Étoile, Cluny - La Sorbonne, Concorde, Daumesnil, Dugommier, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, George V, Mabillon, Maubert – Mutualité, Miromesnil, Odéon, Picpus, Rennes, Rue du Bac, Saint-Germain-des-Prés, Saint-Sulpice, Sèvres - Babylone, Solférino, Tuileries and Varenne.
