An internet user posts on Instagram a video “taken on 2 October at 11:20 a.m.” (translated) from a balcony, relayed on X on 3 October. Filmed from above, it first shows a march of young people going up a cobbled street crossed by the tramway, then helmeted police officers, some with shields, running at the march; young people flee, several are pinned and held on the ground. The visible shop signs place the scene on avenue des États-Unis, about a hundred metres from place de Jaude.
In her text, the video’s author claims that everything in it is illegal: a charge “without prior warning” on protesters “who are only demonstrating (what is more, high-school students aged 15/17)”, arrests of young people who flee and pinning to the ground, baton and shield blows, tear gas, and a girl pushed “violently in the back several times” (translated).
According to Seven Radio, clashes broke out that morning between protesters and law enforcement on place de Jaude around 11 a.m., and three arrests were made during the morning according to the authorities; the article does not describe this particular scene.
On 2 October, the local press describes the same route without mentioning this charge. ICI Pays d’Auvergne (Radio France) reports, at 10:38 a.m., “clashes between high-school students and law enforcement” (translated) on place de Jaude and three arrests according to the national police. La Montagne notes, in its live coverage, that the first tear gas grenades were thrown around 10:40 a.m. on rue Montlosier. In its evening summary, La Montagne writes that the march moved between boulevard Montlosier, avenue des États-Unis and the surrounding streets up to place Delille around 4 p.m., that small fires were lit on avenue des États-Unis and boulevard Lavoisier, and that police officers and gendarmes “on numerous occasions” responded with tear gas “when the protesters came closer” (translated). RVA, which repeats the summary of the Puy-de-Dôme prefecture, speaks of 15 arrests in the department, of bin fires, firework mortar shots, projectiles and barricades, attributed by the prefecture to “masked individuals” who joined the marches (translated). These articles confirm the use of tear gas and the presence of the march on avenue des États-Unis that day; none describes a charge at 11:20 a.m., people pinned to the ground, blows or a girl being pushed, and none repeats the complaint of an absence of warnings. The prefecture has not commented on the video in the sources read.
What is missing to confirm
- An independent source (media, authority) on this specific charge: the press read (La Montagne, ICI, RVA, Seven Radio) confirms clashes, tear gas and the march on avenue des États-Unis, but does not describe the filmed scene.
- The version of the Puy-de-Dôme prefecture: warnings, reason for the charge, any projectiles thrown before it.
- The number and condition of the young people pinned to the ground or pushed.