Trial set for French officer accused of blinding "Yellow Vests" protester After five-year wait

A French judge has ordered a police officer to stand trial in Paris for allegedly blinding a protester with a tear gas grenade, amid ongoing scrutiny over police methods used during riots.

This decision follows the case of Manuel Coisne, who suffered partial blindness after being struck in the eye during a “Yellow Vests” protest in 2019, Caliber.Az reports via French media.

The officer, identified as Fabrice T., is charged with willful violence for allegedly violating regulations that mandate tear gas grenades be fired at a minimum angle of 30 degrees, rather than directly into crowds.

Victim's attorney Aryeh Alimi expressed relief over the decision, stating, “The criminal prosecution of the policeman who took away Koisne's eye is a significant step forward.”

During the widespread “yellow vest” protests from 2018 to 2019, which drew hundreds of thousands of demonstrators across France, participants voiced their discontent with President Emmanuel Macron's policies, escalating fuel prices, and the rising cost of living.

Reports indicate that 23 protesters were blinded by various projectiles used by police during these demonstrations, yet no officers have faced convictions until now.

Koisne was participating in a protest at Place d'Italie in Paris on November 16, 2019, when the situation turned violent. Surveillance footage captured him conversing with other demonstrators away from the chaos when a tear gas grenade suddenly hit him.

Recently, prosecutors have also sought to try another officer for firing a rubber bullet that injured the eye of another prominent protester. The use of such weapons has sparked controversy, especially following incidents of serious injuries during riots in the summer of 2023 after police fatally shot a teenager during a traffic stop in a Paris suburb.

By Tamilla Hasanova