French “freedom convoy” motorists protesting against COVID-19 restrictions will be blocked from entering Paris, the French capital’s police authority said on Thursday.
Protesters set out from southern France on Wednesday in what they call a “freedom convoy” that will converge on Paris and Brussels to demand an end to COVID-19 restrictions, inspired by demonstrators who have gridlocked the Canadian capital Ottawa.
Departures are expected from more cities across France on Thursday.
![Click to play video: '‘Freedom convoy’ in France, inspired by Canadian protests, gets underway'](https://i2.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/xrpzdfin0g-dygm82i1oi/Sequence_04.00_02_19_18.Still005.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
The Paris prefecture said the protesters would be prohibited from entering the capital from Feb. 11-14, citing the risk of public disorder.
In Canada, horn-blaring demonstrations demanding an end to Canadian COVID-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers are now spilling to key Canada-United States border crossings.
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Copycat protests have also sprung up in Australia and New Zealand. Protesters waved the Canadian flag as France’s “freedom convoy” got underway.
![Click to play video: 'Trucker protest organizers’ intentions remain unclear as occupation drags on'](https://i1.wp.com/media.globalnews.ca/videostatic/news/1nbiha5xht-s4627r8w81/0209_ross.jpg?w=1040&quality=70&strip=all)
Motorists who violated the order not to protest within Paris risked two years in prison, a 4,500 euro fine and suspended driver’s license, the prefecture cautioned.
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