French police, activists injured at anti-reservoir protest

26/3/2023 7:24

        French police and environmental activists fought violent pitched battles Saturday around a giant agricultural irrigation reservoir in rural western France.
        
        The interior minister reported more than 30 people injured and said police detonated more than 4,000 non-lethal dispersion grenades as they fended off hundreds of protesters, some armed with machetes, axes and gasoline bombs.
        
        The clashes around the reservoir being built in the rural community of Sainte-Soline highlighted increasing pressure on precious water resources in the face of climate change.