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Police clash with protesters at Paris demonstrations

Police fired tear gas rounds in clashes with protesters at a demonstration in Paris earlier today...
Newstalk
Newstalk

21.53 19 Mar 2017


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Police clash with protesters a...

Police clash with protesters at Paris demonstrations

Newstalk
Newstalk

21.53 19 Mar 2017


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Police fired tear gas rounds in clashes with protesters at a demonstration in Paris earlier today. 

Thousands marched against "police brutality" after the alleged rape of a black youth with a police baton.

On Feburary 22nd, a young man known simply as Theo sustained severe anal and rectal injuries, as well as wounds to his head and face, during a stop-and-search operation in the Seine-Saint-Denis region northeast of Paris.

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He said one of the police officers assaulted him with a baton, which has led to rape charges against him.

Four officers have been suspended pending an investigation.

Police said around 7,000 to 7,500 people joined the march to Place de la Republique in central Paris, where demonstrators chanted "no justice, no peace."

Two police officers were injured in the clashes and taken to hospital and three demonstrators were also arrested.

Those at the protest held a giant banner reading "Justice and dignity, end police impunity," which included drawn images of 13 people presented as victims of police brutality.

Co-organiser Amal Bentounsi told the crowd "We would like for justice to be served."

Her brother Amine was shot dead in the back by an officer who was handed a five-year suspended sentence on appeal. She said "My brother's killer was convicted but there are other families for whom it is not the case."

Fatiha Bouras, who is the mother of another victim, added that there are "too many police killings, they have to stop," before saying "It's only Arabs and blacks who die."


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