Seven people “from the ultra-right movement” were arrested Thursday evening in Lyon, indicates the Rhône prefecture. They were part of a group of about thirty individuals who came to do battle with ultra-left activists who had called for demonstrations against the cancellation of a concert, initially scheduled for the same evening.
On April 12, the Fourvière Foundation announced that it had invited, for the first time, six artists [DJ et rappeurs] to perform on April 27 on the roofs of the basilica. The concert was to be broadcast live on a giant screen a few meters below, on Place Saint-Jean. Except that a week later, the event was canceled because of “threats of serious violence”. A decision that the ultra-right rejoiced in, indicating on social networks that “not having had time to take action”, “the pressure shots (having) been enough”.
Gathering prohibited
The prefecture had, on Thursday, banned for the evening any demonstration in Old Lyon “because of the risk of clashes between several violent groups”. A new meeting place had been indicated on social networks, in the center of Lyon. Around 8 p.m., a brawl broke out and “blows” were exchanged. The police intervened to disperse the gathering, using tear gas.
Around 200 people then gathered around 9:30 p.m. to demonstrate in front of the town hall, peacefully this time, said the prefecture.