Gendarmes fire tear gas grenades during the demonstration at the "megabasin" construction site in Sainte-Soline, western France, March 25, 2023. THIBAUD MORITZ / AFP
Body camera footage revealed by Mediapart and Libération on Wednesday, November 5, shed raw light on French law enforcement's actions during a protest that turned violent in western France over two years ago. At the protest by environmental activists on March 25, 2023, some gendarmes tasked with protecting the giant water reservoirs, or "megabasins," in Sainte-Soline, appeared to forget that their actions and words were being recorded by their own cameras.
The videos have been included in the judicial investigation led by the Rennes prosecutor's office. The footage exposes numerous failings by the gendarmes during this day of exceptionally violent crowd control, including illegal orders, dangerous firing of non-lethal ammunition, and insults. "In your face, son of a whore! (...) Shit, it's recording," one gendarme is heard saying. Approximately 200 demonstrators and 45 gendarmes were injured on the day.
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Given the high level of violence at French 'megabasin' protest, it's time for questions
