French Police Arrest Over 200 Protesters in “Block Everything” Movement

 On September 10, French police detained more than 200 people during nationwide “Block Everything” protests, as demonstrators attempted to paralyze the country following the ousting of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou.

pic: AFP

According to Enronews, protesters set up barricades, lit fires, and blocked key roads, including the Paris ring road. Authorities deployed 80,000 police and gendarmes to restore order. By the morning of September 10, 95 arrests had been reported in Paris alone, with additional detentions in surrounding suburbs.

In the east of Paris, demonstrators burned trash bins and disrupted tram services at Porte de Montreuil station before police cleared the area. Others spilled onto highways to halt traffic, but were quickly dispersed. Hundreds also gathered at Gare du Nord, one of Europe’s busiest train stations, escalating tensions further.

The protests, largely coordinated through Telegram and social media, erupted after Bayrou’s government collapsed on September 8. Interior Minister Bruno Retaileau issued a stark warning: “No obstruction will be tolerated.”

Unlike the 2018 Yellow Vest movement, “Bloquons Tout” (“Block Everything”) is less structured but enjoys significant online support. A recent Ipsos poll revealed that 46% of French citizens back the movement, including many left-wing voters and more than half of supporters of the National Rally party.

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