The 14th day of mobilization against the pension reform was punctuated by a few incidents on the sidelines of the demonstrations, particularly in Paris and Nantes.
In Paris, the police carried out 2,700 checks ahead of the demonstration, which resulted in 14 arrests, including for carrying "weapons", said the police prefecture on Twitter.
#Manif6Juin | 2700 checks carried out before the demonstration ➡️14 arrests.
👉 Weapons, or dangerous objects, have no place in a peaceful demonstration. pic.twitter.com/EDXKrAsQW8
— Prefecture of Police (@prefpolice) June 6, 2023
The procession, composed of 31,000 people according to the police (300,000 for the CGT), started at 14 p.m. from the Invalides towards the Place d'Italie.
A construction hut on fire
The situation began to become tense in the middle of the afternoon, when the demonstration arrived at the Rotunda. Protected by a large police device, and a truck equipped with a water cannon, the restaurant - where Emmanuel Macron had celebrated his victory in the first round of the presidential election in 2017 - was hit by some projectiles.
#Manif6Juin first tensions at the arrival of the black block, in front of La Rotonde. pic.twitter.com/PrFv3tZyui
— Victor Tassel (@victor_tassel) June 6, 2023
In the late afternoon, protesters set fire to a construction hut. Assisted by Brav-M police officers, firefighters intervened to extinguish the fire. At 18:45 p.m., the Paris police headquarters announced a total of 28 arrests. In comparison, 305 people were arrested in the capital during the May 1 demonstration.
Degradation of shop windows
In Nantes, members of the black bloc attacked businesses in the city center, where clashes with the police also took place, reports Ouest-France. According to the prefecture, quoted by Actu.fr, five police officers, three CRS and a mobile gendarme were injured during the demonstration. Eight people had also been arrested for concealing the face and carrying prohibited equipment, at 16:30 p.m.
Another recurring point of tension since the beginning of the mobilization, the city of Rennes has again been the scene of some clashes. Damage to windows and billboards was noted on the route, says Ouest-France, which adds that the police used water cannon and tear gas to repel demonstrators.
Five arrests, three for an "identity check" and two for "detention of shield", were reported by the prefecture, which reported the knee injury of a BAC police officer.
