Paris bans George Floyd protest planned at US embassy

Protesters hold placards during a demonstration outside the US Embassy in Paris on June 1, 2020. PHOTO: AFP

PARIS (REUTERS) - French police have banned a demonstration planned to take place in front of the United States Embassy in Paris on Saturday (June 6) as protests mount around the world over the death of Mr George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The Paris police department said on Friday it had decided to ban the demonstrations because of the risks of social disorder and health dangers from large gatherings due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Trouble had broken out at another anti-police demonstration in the French capital on Wednesday.

Thousands had turned up despite a police ban on the event in memory of Mr Adama Traore, a 24-year old black Frenchman who died in a 2016 police operation which some have likened to Mr Floyd's death.

Unrest has broken out across the United States after the killing of Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old African American who died after a white policeman pinned his neck under a knee for nearly nine minutes in Minneapolis on May 25.

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.