The image is extremely striking, but it does not quite show what some people thought they saw in it.
In a photo taken by AFP on Saturday afternoon during the tense demonstration against the proposed comprehensive security law in Paris, we can see a police officer who seems to be caught in a ball of flames.
"Terrible photos and in particular that of a policeman on fire targeted by those who want to destroy our institutions", indignant on Twitter the union Officers and Police Commissioners.
This expression "policeman on fire" has been used by many Internet users.
"We set fire to the police and we title 'serious incidents'," one of them said to the media.
Senator Les Républicains Bruno Retailleau, for his part, was indignant at these images "which make us ashamed": "They want to kill cops".
Terrible photos of @afpfr and in particular that of a #police officer on fire targeted by those wanting to destroy our institutions.
@EmmanuelMacron #marchesdeslibertes #PPLSecuriteGlobale https://t.co/3LU8IXhmjJ
- Police Officers and Commissioners (@PoliceSCSI) December 5, 2020
In reality, the policeman was not "on fire", as the author of the photo explains to us and as several videos of the same scene attest.
Launch of an "incendiary projectile"
This takes place in front of 153 avenue Gambetta, several hundred meters from the Porte des Lilas, where the procession left shortly after 2 p.m.
The atmosphere appears very tense.
On one side of the road, a dozen police officers are massed facing the wall in a protective position behind their shields, while projectiles are launched.
Their outfit seems to indicate that they belong to the Motorized Violent Actions Repression Brigades (Brav-M), created in March 2019 to deal with scenes of violence during processions of yellow vests.
Tensions begin during the #manifestation against the #LoiSecuritaireGlobale in #Paris on # 5december # StopLoiS SécuritéGlobale #PPLLoiSecuriteGlobale pic.twitter.com/HPXWwL6Mnh
- Grégoire Mandy (@gregoire_mandy) December 5, 2020
Demonstrators, "thugs" and law enforcement officers circulate on the street.
Other people (journalists recognizable by their helmets or their “Press” armbands, but not only) are nearby and film the scene.
The flames actually originate from the explosion of a projectile and they only appeared a few tenths of a second in the image.
“It was extremely stealthy.
I saw something that attracted me but I do not remember exactly what, I pressed the button and there I saw the flames on the image on my case ”, tells us Anne-Christine Poujoulat , the AFP photographer behind the shot.
“The policeman was not on fire but I have the impression that something was thrown at him from which he protected himself with his shield,” she adds.
PARIS - An incendiary projectile is launched at the BRAVMs.
Current tensions.
pic.twitter.com/aUf4pY6LBM
- Clément Lanot (@ClementLanot) December 5, 2020
A heavy bang sounded at that moment.
But that didn't seem to immediately injure the policeman just nearby.
Being placed on the same trajectory on the photo, it gives the impression of being "on fire".
An individual, head down and face hidden, walking right in front of the group of agents does not give the impression of being disturbed by the detonation either, since he does not even turn around at the time.
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If no police officer was "on fire" at this moment, these images nevertheless testify to the very strong tension on Saturday in Paris and the difficulty of ensuring the maintenance of order in the face of the thugs.
According to an initial assessment provided by the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin on Saturday evening, eight police officers or gendarmes were injured during the demonstration.
Last week, 98 police and gendarmes were injured during protests against the Global Security Act.
VIDEO. Demonstration against the Global Security Law: several incidents in Paris