A brawl broke out in the center of Lyon, reports the prefecture, which had banned the gathering called by far-left groups contesting the cancellation of a concert at the basilica of Fourvière.
Far-right activists attacked a rally at the call of far-left groups protesting against the cancellation of a concert, Thursday, April 27, in Lyon. “Seven individuals from the ultra-right movement” were arrested “while blows had just been exchanged”announced the Rhône prefecture on Twitter. A video of Progress shows a masked group bursting into the Place des Jacobins, some throwing smoke bombs.
Earlier, the prefecture had indicated that it had prohibited by order any gathering in the 5th arrondissement of the city, “because of the risk of clashes between several violent groups”. A meeting “savage (…) at the call of the ultra-left” nevertheless took place, in the 2nd arrondissement, she explains.
A canceled concert
A call for a rally at 8 p.m. had been launched on social networks to denounce cancellation of a concert. DJs and rappers were to perform Thursday on the roof of the basilica in Lyon. The event was canceled after “threats of serious violence” far-right groups, according to the organizing collective Quai de Saône. The Fourvière Foundation, owner of the building, had for its part only mentioned “graves dissensions” in its press release announcing the cancellation of the event, on April 20.
After the clashes, Thursday evening, a gathering of around 200 people was held peacefully in Place des Terreaux, reports Progress. Some participants then began a “wild” demonstration, before being dispersed by the police.
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