China News Agency, Paris, February 12 (Reporter Li Yang) On February 12, local time, the Paris police prevented a convoy of demonstrators from blocking traffic in the city center. Dozens of people have been arrested by the police.
Demonstrators from many parts of France form a motorcade and plan to gather in Paris this weekend to block roads in opposition to the vaccine pass measure.
The Paris police were on high alert, announcing that the demonstrators' convoys were prohibited from blocking traffic, and 7,200 police officers were dispatched to deploy police armored vehicles, water cannons and trailers in the city center.
Paris police revealed on the 12th that they had stopped hundreds of cars at multiple road entrances to Paris, including 450 at the Porte de Santa Cruz and 300 at the A4 entrance.
Convoys of demonstrators appeared to be trying to make their way directly into the city center from west Paris, reaching places such as the Arc de Triomphe.
The reporter saw on the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Elysees that the police were heavily guarded here, with dozens of police vehicles, police armored vehicles and trailers deployed here.
Numerous police officers patrolled the various intersections of the Champs-Élysées, prohibiting the passage of vehicles and pedestrians on the street.
Place de Gaulle, where the Arc de Triomphe is located, has only a limited number of lanes open, and most areas are closed to traffic.
Still, some demonstrators' vehicles managed to reach the Arc de Triomphe.
Their vehicle tried to stop in front of the Arc de Triomphe, but was quickly driven away by police.
Police threw several tear gas in the eviction.
The demonstrators' vehicles circled around the Arc de Triomphe and honked their horns to protest, while the police had brought the situation under control.
For the police, the demonstrators' vehicles are easy to identify, most of which are from the provinces, judging from the license plates, and are rare in Paris.
The reporter saw vehicles with license plates marked Alpes-Maritime, Ardèche, and Ariège near the Arc de Triomphe. These places are relatively far from Paris, and the possibility of belonging to the demonstrators' convoy is not low.
French Interior Minister Dalmanin said that night that the police had arrested 54 demonstrators and issued 337 fines; the police also displayed contraband such as knives seized from demonstrators through social media, demonstrating in part of the Champs-Elysees Avenue The driver's vehicle was removed for violating the ban.
The demonstrators who organized the motorcade protest claimed that the move was influenced and inspired by the road blockade demonstrations in Canada.
Some demonstrators are also reportedly planning to drive to Brussels, Belgium to protest.
French government spokesman Attar attributed the protesters' anger in part to "fatigue and tiredness" caused by the prolonged implementation of anti-epidemic measures.
French Prime Minister Castel said officials would respond firmly if demonstrators tried to block traffic in Paris.
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