Thousands of opponents of Covid-19 rules encamp on the outskirts of Paris intent on entering the city in defiance of a ban by authorities
Gendarmerie armoured vehicles have also been deployed in the streets of the capital for the first time since the 'yellow vest' protests at the end of 2018.
Nearly 7,200 police and gendarmes "are being deployed over the next three days to enforce the ban on vehicle convoys," Paris police headquarters said early on Saturday. Police showed off their anti-blockage arsenal on Twitter, publishing photographs of loader tractors for the removal of barricades as well as trucks equipped with cranes or water cannon."If they block traffic or if they try to block the capital, we must be very firm about this," he insisted on France 2 television channel on Friday.Police estimated 3,300 vehicles were involved in the various convoys by Friday afternoon.
The order prohibiting the assembly of convoys was upheld on Friday by the courts, which rejected two appeals.