satisfaction of Gérald Darmanin, Thomas Brail injured, 9 people arrested during the evacuation of the ZAD

Since yesterday, Saturday October 21, some of the demonstrators against the A69 have set up at a place called La Crémade (Tarn) located on the A69 construction site in order to create a Zone to Defend (ZAD). The police decided to intervene on Sunday October 22 around 1 p.m.

“While the organizers had committed to leaving the scene as soon as the demonstration ended, radical individuals illegally settled on private property. The police are on site to arrest them.“The Tarn prefecture has decided to evacuate the place called La Crémade on Sunday October 22.

Since the day before, a significant number of demonstrators against the A69 motorway have settled on the land of this former farm which was pre-empted and located on the route of the A69 in order to create a ZAD there.

The occupants faced the police and tear gas was fired as we can see in this video from France 3 Occitanie journalist, Laurent Dubois.

THE barricades blocking access to the site were also destroyed using armored gendarmerie vehicles.

The “Zadists” responded to the tear gas with stones and bottles.

The Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin estimated at the beginning of the afternoon that “once again, the police are subjected to unprecedented and unacceptable violence while, under the authority of the magistrates, they evacuate a project for a new ZAD in the Tarn. Arrests are made.“Around 4:20 p.m., the Tarn prefecture did not indicate any figures. A little later in the afternoon, the member of the government thanked the “law enforcement, who thanks to their courage, prevented violent individuals from establishing a ZAD in the Tarn. State authority and court decisions prevent us from reliving a new Notre-Dame-des-Landes. Force remained in the right.”

On social networks, the “zadists” called for mobilization for “put pressure on and protect the place” : “The FDO must not enter the camp, and allow people who wish to remain there to be safe during the dismantling” indicate the organizers on a Telegram loop.

According to our journalists, the area was however evacuated at 1:15 p.m.

While he opposed the intervention of the police on the site, Thomas Brail was evacuated by the street medics on a stretcher, apparently unconscious as we can see in this video shot by the journalist from France 3 Occitania, Harmony Pacione.

The environmental activist was taken from the ZAD to be installed a little further away on the demonstration camp. According to the first elements collected by the journalists from France 3 Occitanie present, the figure of the protest would have a broken wrist. “I was hit with a baton in the knees and on the handle. So I have a big bruise on my knees and my wrist is not very functional because I can’t move it. I have no intention of being evacuated. My friends are here and I would like to know how it will go” he declared to a team from France 3 Occitanie.

Around thirty demonstrators were injured. “The repression is quite violent, estimates the Extinction Rebellion movement in one of its publications on social networks. The cops gas right up to the camp, right up to the tractor and the psych tent which almost caught fire. Take care of yourself, all vulnerable people can join the red flag to be safe!“Fires caused by tear gas have also been reported.

The prefectural services also asked all journalists present to leave the place where the police intervened.

During a press conference, the prefect of Tarn, Michel Vibois announced at the end of the day that the evacuation was carried out as part of a blatant legal operation, for occupation of a premises with assault, and that 9 people were apprehended.