Captain Alexandre of the French gendarmerie has described being burned on the ankle after he was targeted by an incendiary device thrown by hostile individuals during a demonstration at Porte de Charenton in Paris on Saturday. In an interview with Le Figaro, he said the attack came during the final phase of the demonstration as the procession arrived at Porte de Charenton.
Alexandre said his unit, made up of 70 gendarmes, was deployed across three routes. Its mission was to gather information on the possible formation of hardline opponents and to filter and direct ordinary, non-hostile members of the public toward open metro entrances. He said the officers quickly found themselves facing several hundred equipped hostile individuals who resisted all measures, beginning with tear gas grenades. He described the confrontation as lacking any gradual escalation.
According to the account, Alexandre was hit by a particularly sophisticated incendiary device. An investigation has been opened for attempted homicide against a person holding public authority. The captain said hostile individuals are using increasingly violent devices.
Sources: Le Figaro.