NEWS CENTER - Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez said that the clashes in the protest action after the murder of three Kurds were caused by provocation.

 

After three Kurdish activists were murdered in the middle of the day on 23 December, a large march took place on Saturday.

 

Tension arose due to the provocation of a person passing by by making the Gray Wolf sign, a racist paramilitary formation affiliated with the Turkish state.

 

Speaking to BFM TV, Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez said: "The action continued normally with the participation of political figures."

 

Nunez stated that the events took place a little after 1pm for a reason that seemed to be caused by provocation, and said: "It is stated that a pickup truck has passed, and this is how I was informed. We will clarify all this.”

 

Saying that some of the activists contacted the police on another boulevard, Nunez said: "Again, there is no doubt that it was a provocation."

 

Stating that 11 people were detained, Nunez said that those who entered the conflict were also a small group, and emphasized that the organizers of the action tried to prevent this.

 

Asked by a journalist whether the people involved in the protests were Kurds from other countries, Nunez said: "It is not my place to stigmatize these people."

 

Nunez stated that 31 police officers were slightly injured in the incidents but did not require any medical intervention.