Paris police disperse so-called 'Freedom Convoy'

Paris police arrested 97 people, inspired by truckers in Canada, who defied a ban on a protest convoy over coronavirus regulations to try block traffic in the capital, with 81 still in custody Sunday.

A protester stands on top of a vehicle as cars parade during their "Convoi de la liberte" (Freedom Convoy), a vehicular convoy to protest COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

Thousands of demonstrators from across France attempted to block traffic in the capital Saturday in a self-proclaimed "Freedom Convoy" of cars, trucks and campervans. Hundreds of them continued on to Brussels on Sunday.

French anti-riot police officers walk through tear gas they fired as convoys of protestors arrived in the French capital, Feb. 12, 2022.

In Paris, more than 100 vehicles managed to converge on Champs-Elysees Avenue, where police used teargas to disperse protesters in scenes reminiscent of the "yellow vest" riots of 2018-2019.

Two men, handcuffed with zip ties, detained by French anti-riot police officers on the Champs Elysees in Paris, Feb. 12, 2022.

Dozens of people remained on the famous avenue and in the nearby Bois de Boulogne forest park until early Sunday.

A man walks through tear gas on the Place Charles De Gaulle (Place de l'Etoile) as convoys of protesters arrived in the French capital, Feb. 12, 2022.

Police officers check a vehicle at Porte de Saint-Cloud, as French drivers and their "Freedom Convoy" protest arrive in Paris to protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, Feb. 12, 2022.

Police officers on motorcycles direct camper vans out of Champs-Elysees Avenue as French drivers and their "Freedom Convoy" arrive in Paris to protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, Feb. 12, 2022.

A protester waves a Canadian flag on the Champs-Elysees avenue as French drivers and their "Freedom Convoy" arrive in Paris to protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

French police use tear gas while facing demonstrators in this screengrab taken from a video during the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, Feb. 12, 2022.

Protestors gather at the Place d'Italie as French drivers and their "Freedom Convoy" arrive in Paris to protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, Feb. 12, 2022.

French police use tear gas while facing demonstrators in this screengrab taken from a video during the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

Protesters support the "Freedom Convoy" to protest COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions as it drives past the Arc de Triomphe on Champs-Elysees Avenue, Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

French police use tear gas while facing demonstrators in this screengrab taken from a video during the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

French police vehicles parked next to the Arc de Triomphe as French drivers and their "Freedom Convoy" arrive in Paris to protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, Feb. 12, 2022.

Tear gas grenades are fired during a protest on the Champs-Elysees avenue as cars try to block the traffic during the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

Police officers are seen on Champs-Elysees Avenue as cars try to block the traffic during the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

Riot police deploy tear gas on Champs-Elysees Avenue, as they try to disperse demonstrators during a protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

Riot police scuffle with demonstrators on Champs-Elysees Avenue during a protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

People evacuate a restaurant on Champs-Elysees Avenue after riot police fire tear gas to disperse demonstrators during a protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions, in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

Riot police in armored vehicles are seen on Champs-Elysees Avenue as they try to disperse demonstrators during a protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

Police officers are seen on Champs-Elysees Avenue as cars try to block the traffic during the "Freedom Convoy" protest against COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions in Paris, France, Feb. 12, 2022.

A demonstrator kicks a tear gas canister during a protest on Champs-Elysees Avenue, Feb. 12, 2022.

Protesters stand on top of a van during a protest on Champs-Elysees Avenue, Feb. 12, 2022.

Police officers stand amid tear gas during a protest on Champs-Elysees Avenue, Feb. 12, 2022.

Traffic jams form at the Porte de Bagnolet in eastern Paris as the "Freedom Convoy" of protestors arrives in the capital, Feb. 12, 2022.

A demonstrator kicks a tear gas canister during a protest on Champs-Elysees Avenue, Feb. 12, 2022.

Authorities in France and Belgium have banned road blockades threatened by groups organizing online against COVID-19 restrictions.

Cars in the convoy drive on a motorway in Lille, northern France, Feb. 11, 2022.

Police officers on motorcycles direct camper vans out of Champs-Elysées Avenue, Feb. 12, 2022.