France, Belgium: Police clash with protesters in Paris Feb. 12 /update 2

Event

Police have clashed with participants of the "Freedom Convoy" protest in Paris on the afternoon of Feb. 12. Police have employed the use of tear gas and baton charges while dispersing protesters in Place d'Italie, Place de l'Etoile, and Place de la Concorde.

Activists will likely continue to attempt to gather in central locations of Paris in connection with the "Freedom Convoy" protests, a largely vehicular protest intended to denounce COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates. Authorities in Paris previously banned the gathering. Over 7,000 police have subsequently been deployed in the city specifically to prevent protester roadblocks and issue citations to or arrest individuals who violate the order.

Convoys from various parts of France have converged on Paris, from where they will continue on to Brussels to link up with similar activist groups that will be arriving in the Belgian capital Feb. 14. Participants will depart Paris at about 13:30 Feb. 13, traveling along the A1 motorway to Lille, where they will assemble in the vicinity of Lille-Lesquin Airport (LIL). During the morning of Feb. 14, the convoy is slated to depart Lille and move along the A27, E429, and E19 to Brussels.

Authorities in Brussels have also prohibited all vehicular convoy protests through Feb. 14; However, Brussels officials have not released details of specific security measures they will implement in their city; however, their plan will likely mirror that of their French counterparts.

Freedom Convoy organizers have as yet released no official statement concerning the bans, and it remains unclear whether the police orders will have any significant impact on their plans.

The potential for transport disruptions and security disturbances, including localized clashes, will likely be elevated if protest convoys attempt to enter Paris or Brussels in violation of the prohibitions. Regardless, authorities will almost certainly deploy an increased police presence at strategic locations along anticipated convoy routes. Significant traffic disruptions are possible, especially in cities transited by the motorcades.

Advice

Allow extra time to reach destinations in affected areas of France and Belgium through Feb. 14. Plan accordingly for increased crowding on public transportation. Heed the instructions of local security personnel. As a precaution, keep away from any rallies that may materialize or locations where law enforcement personnel appear to be deploying; leave the area at the first sign of any confrontation.