According to BFMTV broadcaster, the investigations were launched due to the fact that during the protests many activists were injured or suffered from tear gas.
The wave of the so-called yellow vest protests — named after the obligatory attribute of French drivers — started in mid-November. While the French government has scrapped its planned hike in fuel taxes, which is what initially sparked the protests, the "yellow vests" have evolved into a broader movement against government policies and rising living costs. The rallies have been marked by violent clashes between protesters and the police.
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"Yellow vest" protests in France have also been supported by a massive rally of hundreds of high school students expressing their discontent with the new education reform, as well as farmers and ambulance personnel.