Fifteen “antifascists” were arrested in France Sunday for carrying “banned weapons” and attempting to violently counter a demonstration by the far-right group Generation Identity, according to Le Parisien.
Generation Identity originally planned a demonstration called “Face the Islamists – Defend Europe” in Paris on Friday, but the demonstration was banned by police citing risks of “violent clashes.”
Before the rally was slated to begin, far-left extremists allegedly attacked the Paris headquarters of Generation Identity, smashing windows and reportedly dispersing tear gas.
Black block protestor smashed windows and threw tear gas in Generation Identity’s office in Paris ahead of their demonstration called: “Face the Islamists – Defend Europe” on Friday. The authorities then decided to cancel the event over security concerns. pic.twitter.com/ZcMOk1TUWo
— Alessandra Bocchi (@alessabocchi) November 27, 2017
European press outlets APA and AFP originally claimed that police arrested fifteen members of Generation Identity, and were later forced to correct their reporting. Instead, only one person arrested that day was a member of the far-right group, Le Parisien reports.
Illegaler Waffenbesitz: Polizei nimmt 15 Anhänger der Identitären Bewegung fest https://t.co/qO27T1dkl3 pic.twitter.com/frsbFq60PY
— SPIEGEL ONLINE (@SPIEGELONLINE) November 26, 2017
The above is the original tweet, while the below is the correction.
Korrektur: In einer früheren Version dieser Meldung hieß es, es seien 15 Anhänger der rechtsextremen “Identitären Bewegung” festgenommen worden. Die Nachrichtenagentur AFP hatte dies unter Berufung auf d Pariser Polizei berichtet. Mittlerweile hat die AFP ihre Angaben korrigiert.
— SPIEGEL ONLINE (@SPIEGELONLINE) November 28, 2017
A Twitter account linked to Generation Identity also thanked the APA for issuing a correction.
Wir danken der APA, dass sie den Fehler korrigiert haben. https://t.co/1UBteOs4CR
— Identitäre Bewegung (@Identitaere_B) November 27, 2017