Convoys of tractors edged closer to Paris, Lyon and other strategic locations in France on Wednesday, January 31, as thousands of protesting farmers appeared to ignore warnings of police intervention if they cross red lines laid down by ministers.
The government has warned farmers to stay away from the wholesale Rungis market south of Paris, a key food distribution hub for the capital, with Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin – who has ordered police so far to tread lightly – saying officers stood ready to defend strategic spots. "They can't attack police, they can't enter Rungis, they can't enter the Paris airports or the center of Paris," Darmanin told the France 2 broadcaster. "But let me tell you again that if they try, we will be there."
Despite the warning, a convoy of tractors that started in the southwest of the country resumed its drive towards Rungis Wednesday after spending the night on farms along the way. Police units with armored vehicles have been deployed along the A6 motorway leading to the food market in anticipation of their arrival, and police checkpoints were set up at access points to the market.