Thousands of demonstrators headed for the port of La Rochelle, where clashes broke out on the bangs of the procession. They were protesting against the main players in the cereal industry, involved in the construction of the controversial water reserves and accused of “monopolizing” water for the benefit of the agro-industry

The Charente-Maritime prefecture has issued a warning concerning the procession of anti-basin demonstrators circulating this Saturday, July 20, in La Rochelle, citing the presence of “several hundred radical individuals, equipped with projectiles and protective gear”. According to information gathered by H24 MEDIA, at least 3,500 people joined the demonstration against the megabassines, with clashes reported between the forces of law and order and the demonstrators.

Clashes and accusations of violence

The prefecture pointed out that the procession, which included radical individuals, was heading towards the Grand Port Maritime de La Rochelle. They split into several groups before converging on the Baie du Port Neuf. In response, the police used tear gas. The Bassines Non Merci and Les Soulèvements de la Terre collectives, co-organizers of the event, denounced the violence of the police, posting images of charges and bludgeoning on social networks.

Six people were taken into custody. Les Soulèvements de la Terre announced the presence of 6,000 demonstrators, aiming to block the port of La Rochelle to protest against the agro-industry promoters of the megabassines. In the morning, 200 demonstrators were evacuated from the port without incident.

Incidents and damage

A large group of black blocks formed, with some demonstrators smashing supermarket windows and damaging a bank branch. Demonstrators also broke into an old people’s home to escape the police, where one person was arrested.

The Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, announced that five people had been arrested, and the La Rochelle public prosecutor’s office went on to say that six people were being held in police custody. A seventh arrest was reported later. At least eight people were injured, including five demonstrators and three gendarmes, one of whom suffered burns to his legs caused by a molotov cocktail.

In addition, 1,401 items considered dangerous were seized in the Deux-Sèvres region, in connection with the rally against megabassines around the “water village”, some 80 kilometers west of La Rochelle.