Paris (AFP)
Five people, some of whom "belong to the Black Bloc movement", were arrested Monday in France for calls on social networks to attack "a place of accommodation" gendarmes at the G7 summit in Biarritz, has we learned Tuesday from a source close to the investigation.
The investigation is part of a message published by a woman domiciled in the Landes and is among the people arrested, designating a hotel reserved by gendarmes.
The others arrested, one of whom has already been convicted of violence at a demonstration, are suspected of having called for "burning" the establishment, according to this source, confirming information from BFMTV.
The interpellations were held "in Tours, Hendaye station and TER Hendaye-Dax," said a second source close to the investigation. The procuracy of Tours, requested by AFP, did not wish to make comments, simply stating that "the custody and investigation are still in progress".
These arrests occur in a tense security context in the lead up to the summit, which is held from 24 to 26 August in Biarritz, and on which weigh several threats, including "violent groups". Interior Minister Christophe Castaner is expected Tuesday in the afternoon to present the security of the G7.
The seaside town, busy during the summer, has been under surveillance for several days, while more than 5,000 delegates, technical staff and journalists are expected for the summit.
Two security perimeters have been identified, a so-called "enhanced security" zone located in the heart of the city, closed to vehicular traffic and non-accredited pedestrians, and a so-called "protection zone" in which only cars with specific badge and pedestrians with badges will be able to enter.
Since Monday morning, anticapitalists, defenders of the planet, alterglobalists and other opponents began to gather in their headquarters in Urrugne, 20 km from Biarritz, for a week of actions they promise peaceful. A large anti-G7 demonstration is planned in Hendaye on Saturday 24th, for the opening of the summit.
© 2019 AFP