46 in custody in Paris over banned far-right and anti-fascist marches

"Forty-six people were taken into custody in Paris on Saturday in connection with banned protests by far-right and anti-fascist groups, police told AFP. They were among 97 people arrested in several areas in the centre of the French capital, according to updated police figures. They were detained for taking part in groups formed with the intention of committing violence and damaging property, wilful group violence and carrying prohibited weapons, police said."

"Police had banned a protest organised by the far-right May 9 Committee and an anti-fascist counter-demonstration called "No Nazis in Paris" that had been due to take place on Saturday afternoon. A court upheld the ban due to the risk of public disorder. Police justified the move after the death of a far-right activist in Lyon in February, and because Nazi salutes had been seen at a previous May 9 Committee march last year."

""While demonstrators must be able to gather in complete safety, the ban orders must be respected and confrontations between far-right and far-left activists cannot be tolerated," the police told AFP. On Saturday afternoon, nine people - hard-left activists, according to a police source - were arrested on suspicion of being part of a group "intent on committing violence or damaging property," officers said. Over the course of the day, 182 people were fined for failing to comply with the ban."

"A May 9 Committee spokesman, Raphael Ayma, who also leads a neo-fascist group in southern France, said: "If there is any unrest, the only ones to blame are the police." The ban raised concerns about freedom to demonstrate in France, he added. The May 9 Committee protests every year to mark the death of a far-right activist in 1994."

Police in Paris took 46 people into custody on Saturday in connection with banned far-right and anti-fascist protests. The arrests were part of 97 people detained across central areas, based on updated police figures. Detainees were held for participation in groups formed to commit violence and damage property, for willful group violence, and for carrying prohibited weapons. Police banned a May 9 Committee far-right protest and an anti-fascist counter-demonstration called “No Nazis in Paris.” A court upheld the bans due to the risk of public disorder. Police cited the death of a far-right activist in Lyon in February and Nazi salutes at a previous May 9 Committee march. Police also arrested nine hard-left activists and fined 182 people for failing to comply.

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