France Gears Up for Olympic Torch Relay, Set to Deploy Hundreds of Riots Police

Friday, April 11, 2008

France has announced it will take drastic measures when the Olympic torch is carried through the country's capital on its 28km run, to protect it from protesters protesting China's occupation of Tibet and the current unrest in the region.

The 80 runners taking part in the torch relay will be protected by 65 police motorcycles, 200 officers on rollerblades and 200 riot police. Activists have said that they will be holding protests in Paris to bring awareness to the plight of Tibet.

When the torch went through London, 37 people were arrested from the resulting protests (SN reported).

Source: BBC