Demonstrations of October 17: in Lyon, images of the tourist office ransacked and burned on Place Bellecour

In Lyon, the situation was already very tense around the 2 p.m. rally on Place Bellecour, drowned in the smoke of tear gas. Damage was committed to the tourist office kiosk and a fire broke out, devastating the building.

Many young people hide their faces at least behind masks formerly used during the Covid crisis. Numerous mortar shots and projectile throws targeted the police, reports our journalist on site.

Another gathering spills out around the neighboring Place de la République. The police responded with tear gas. The Hôtel-Dieu shopping center is closed off while a large crowd also arrives from the Guillotière bridge.

Four CRS reinforcement trucks are positioned in front of the Hôtel-Dieu. After clashes, the demonstrators moved back towards the Guillotière and Wilson bridges, on the Rhône side, where a water truck was used to push them back.

“The police are undertaking maneuvers to disperse violent groups” while firefighters are prevented from accessing the fire at a tourist office branch, said the Rhône prefecture.

At 3 p.m., the tourist office is still burning while Place Bellecour is cordoned off. The clashes move to neighboring squares (République and Jacobins) where the “ACAB” rings out.