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Crowds gathered in the French capital on Sunday to attend a global march for the climate, despite the ban on gatherings enforced by French authorities. When one of the groups charged a police cordon, tear gas was deployed to push them back.
"Huge amounts" of tear gas were fired at protesters near Place de la Republique in central Paris, according to witnesses' reports on Twitter, with objects flying in the direction of security forces. The march, which was set to take place in dozens of cities around the world, was restricted in the French capital falling under the ban on gatherings introduced after the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. La Republique metro station, closest to the scene, has been closed by authorities, citing security measures.
The riot police repeatedly attempted to push back the activists, spraying the crowds with tear gas. Ahead of the summit, 24 green activists were put under house arrest, with police saying they were suspected of planning violent protests, according to Reuters.
Around 100 people were arrested in the scuffles, AP reported citing police. The detained protesters were found to be in possession of projectiles and other suspicious objects, Paris police chief Michel Cadot said, adding that about 200 to 300 people who violated the official protests ban during the state of emergency have been identified by police.
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