Violence after veil checked

FRENCH police have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse an angry crowd following clashes after they questioned a woman wearing a full facial veil, which is banned in the country.

A police source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the trouble started when police stopped a 25-year-old woman in the centre of Argenteuil, a suburb northwest of Paris, who was wearing a full-face Muslim veil, or niqab.

A passer-by got involved, calling the check ‘‘illegitimate’’, and soon a crowd of about 60 people gathered and attacked the police, who called for back-up.

‘‘ The police were beaten,’’ he said.

A 32-year-old resident who asked not to be named, said police fired tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd in Argenteuil, which has a large Muslim population.

Violations are punishable by a fine of up to

150 ($A215) or mandatory citizenship training.