Paris (AFP)

An investigation was opened Monday in "search of the causes of the injuries" suffered by the Syrian photographer Ameer al-Halbi, a collaborator of AFP and Polka, during the demonstration on Saturday, AFP learned from the Paris prosecutor's office.

This investigation, entrusted to the General Inspectorate of the National Police (IGPN), aims to clarify the conditions for the occurrence "of the serious injury to the face of this 24-year-old photographer who had covered the Syrian conflict for AFP and is installed in France for almost three years.

A truncheon from a police officer could be involved.

Ameer al-Halbi was on the ground in an independent capacity during the demonstration against the "comprehensive security" law and police violence.

"We are shocked by the injuries inflicted on our colleague Ameer al-Halbi and we condemn this unprovoked violence," Phil Chetwynd, AFP news director, responded on Sunday.

Mr Chetwynd stressed that at the time of the incident, Ameer al-Halbi "was exercising his legal right as a photojournalist covering demonstrations in the streets of Paris" and that he "was with a group of colleagues clearly identified as journalists".

An "internal administrative" investigation demanded by AFP has already been opened by the police to determine the circumstances of the incident.

In a tweet on Saturday evening, Reporters Without Borders denounced "unacceptable police violence".

Ameer al-Halbi told AFP that at the time of the clashes at the end of the demonstration at Place de la Bastille, he had taken a few minutes before the incident "photos of police officers who were hitting someone".

A few minutes later, "The police arrived and suddenly I found myself on the ground, I didn't realize what had happened. I think it was one shot. 'walked on it and then someone helped me, "said the photographer.

"I did not have my protective equipment, confiscated by the police during a demonstration of + yellow vests + because I did not have a press card", he added.

Ameer al-Halbi won in 2017 the 2nd prize in the "Spot News" category for the World Press Photo and covered for AFP the fighting and the devastation in his city of Aleppo, in the midst of the Syrian conflict.

© 2020 AFP