French police charged

French police officers will face criminal charges for injuring “yellow vest” protesters following investigations into 174 incidents, Remy Heitz, the public prosecutor, said yesterday. “Police officers will be sent before the criminal court between now and the end of the year,” Heitz told Le Parisien newspaper. He added: “The cases are mainly those in which the injuries were most serious, with permanent disabilities . . . Several cases involve the use of rubber bullets.” France is one of the few European countries that allows police to use the LBD40, a controversial weapon that fires rubber bullets, also known as “flash-balls”. Many of the 24 “yellow vests” who say they have lost eyes in clashes with police blamed the weapon for their injuries. The Interior Ministry puts the number at 10, but acknowledges that 2200 protesters have been injured. The ministry says more than 1600 police officers have also been injured.