Paris police fire tear gas to disperse banned virus protest

By THOMAS ADAMSON
Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — Paris police fired tear gas against a handful of demonstrators Saturday who defied a police order by taking part in a protest against virus restrictions inspired by Canada’s horn-honking truckers. Police deterred over 500 vehicles but a few dozen were able to get past myriad police checkpoints. Police fired tear gas as they demanded that the demonstrators leave and stop disrupting traffic. Despite the fracas, a threatened blockade of Paris failed to materialize. Nearly all French adults are vaccinated against COVID-19 and the protests have represented a small minority. In the Netherlands, dozens of trucks arrived in The Hague for a similar protest. Online groups are also trying to organize a vehicle protest Monday in Brussels.