It was an "outlet" deemed "irresponsible" by the Marseille police.

On Sunday March 21, around 6,500 people, almost all young and unmasked, defied health restrictions against Covid-19 in the Marseille city for an unauthorized carnival.

Starting from the district of La Plaine, the parade slipped in the afternoon in the rue d'Aubagne, still in the center, where residents did not hesitate to put speakers on the windowsills transforming the road into giant dance floor.

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"It's incredible! I was told 'there is something not to be missed in Marseille is the carnival of the Plain'", tells AFP Romain, disguised as a baker with a Zinédine Zidane jersey under her apron, but who prefers not to mention her last name.

Beside him pass gorillas, a fake Didier Raoult, (the infectious disease specialist stationed in Marseille), most of them without a mask despite the density of the procession.

"We go down to the Old Port"

"I know a lot of friends who go to Madrid where everything is open so it feels good to see that", considers for his part Quentin, a 26-year-old medical intern who has his mask ... of a lion and also prefers not not give his last name.

"It is an undeclared event that we do not consider at all responsible because the barrier gestures are not respected. We carry out checks around the procession, in particular on the wearing of the mask and the offenders will be fined", indicated to AFP the police headquarters initially, estimating the number of participants at 6,500.

With loud cries of "Come, we're going down to the Old Port", the unleashed carnival riders then descended the Canebière under the sometimes dumbfounded gaze of Sunday walkers.

And they burned their traditional chariots, some riding on the merry-go-round dancing on the bars of the carousel.

Usual restrictions

Around 6.30 p.m., the police intervened close to the Old Port to disperse the gathering.

Unlike Nice, on the Côte d'Azur, Marseille is not affected by the new restrictions that came into force on Saturday for at least four weeks in 16 departments (the eight of Ile-de-France, the five of Hauts-de -France, Seine-Maritime, Eure and Alpes-Maritimes).

But the usual restrictions to fight the spread of Covid-19 apply, including limiting gatherings and wearing masks.

Last year the La Plaine carnival was canceled due to the first confinement to fight the Covid-19 pandemic.

With AFP

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