[1/5] Activists take part in a protest against the Lyon-Turin rail link between France and Italy, in Les Chavannes-en-Maurienne, France, June 17, 2023.
REUTERS/Denis BalibousePARIS, June 17 (Reuters) - Twelve police were wounded on Saturday in clashes with demonstrators in France's Savoie department where a protest against a high speed rail project in the Alps turned violent, authorities said.
Some 2,000 protesters, including a roughly 300-strong dark-clad hardcore, were in the Maurienne Valley objecting to construction of a rail link including a tunnel between Lyon and the Italian city of Turin.
Association Les Soulevements de la Terre contested that figure in a Twitter post late on Saturday and said 50 demonstrators were wounded, including six who were hospitalised.
"The day is not over, we remain prudent and mobilised," said Ravier, noting a security presence would go through the night.
Persons:
Denis Balibouse PARIS, Francois Ravier, Les, Gerald Darmanin, Mimosa Spencer, Andrew Cawthorne, Daniel Wallis
Organizations:
Lyon, REUTERS, Thomson
Locations:
Turin, France, Italy, Les Chavannes, France's Savoie, Lyon, Italian