Despite being told that they may face two years in prison for ‘blocking highways’, protesters are continuing their convoys in to the cities of Brussels and Paris.
Hundreds of motorists are presently their route to Paris, demanding an end to Covid restrictions, and police have threatened them with prison, a driving ban, and a €4,500 fine.
Police have designated the convoy a “undeclared mobilization” because they are concerned that the vehicles, vans, and motorcycles would paralyze the city.
Many of the French cars are flying Canadian flags in support of truckers protesting their own government’s draconian Covid regulations.
The Mail Online reports: But the demonstrators say despite the threats they will continue with their planned route to the French capital before moving to Brussels, hoping the new measures will bring further attention to their cause.
This morning, Belgian authorities said they would also ban freedom convoys amid warnings motorists will descend on the city on Monday.
‘Means are being put in place to prevent the blocking of the Brussels-Capital Region,’ the mayor of the Belgian capital, Philippe Close, said on Twitter.
Earlier today, Paris cops warned protesters: ‘There will be a special deployment… to prevent blockages of major roads, issue tickets and arrest those who infringe on this protest ban.’
The convoy aims to ‘block the capital by hindering road traffic,’ the statement adds.
‘Due to the risk of public order disturbances that this gathering could cause, the Prefect of Police issues an order prohibiting such demonstrations, from Friday February 11, 2022 to Monday February 14, 2022 inclusive.’
Despite the ban, organisers of the convoy have indicated that they will continue their journey to force a confrontation with the authorities.
They are being supported by the Yellow Vest anti-government movement, which has brought chaos to cities including the French capital in recent years.
