At the end of the afternoon, some 300 vehicles, cars and vans had stopped near Lille. The time of departure to Brussels of the convoy is not yet known.
Le Monde with AFP
They had stopped Saturday around Paris and had entered, for some, in the capital to demonstrate. Part of the opposing convoys to the vaccination pass from all over France, Sunday, February 13, arrived near Lille for a stopover, before a rally planned Monday in Brussels.
At the end of the afternoon, some 300 vehicles, cars and vans, many of which adorned with French flags, were at the rendezvous, a shopping center parking in Fâches-Thumesnil, 10 kilometers from the center of Lille. “We let go”, “freedom, freedom” shouted the participants, for some dressed in yellow vests, welcomed by local supports. Some police officers were visible around the car park, but “nothing prohibits” protesters to continue to the border with Belgium, has noted a police source. Other vehicles continue to flock in the evening, in a horn concert.
The time of departure to Brussels of the convoy is not yet known. On the loops of the Telegram messaging system used by the participants, advice is given to pass the border in dispersed order. The Belgian authorities have prohibited any manifestation in the capital “with motorized vehicles” and announced having taken measures “to prevent the blockage of the Brussels-Capital Region”.
Canadian model
Those who call “convoys of freedom”, on the model of mobilization that currently paralyzes the Canadian capital Ottawa, bring together vaccination opponents, but also to President Emmanuel Macron, who also repeat the demands of ” yellow vests “on the cost of living.
From all over France, convoys had converged at the end of the week to Paris. But, if the police had identified Friday night 3,000 vehicles for 5,000 protesters around Paris, all convoys have finally rallied the capital and all did not intend to win Brussels. In a tweet, the Paris Police Prefecture said Sunday maintain “His vigilance to prevent blockages at the doors of Paris with reinforced controls throughout the day”. Some 7,500 members of the law enforcement are mobilized in the capital since Friday and until Monday.