Demonstrations by opponents of the LGV in Gironde: the prefect denounces “shots” heard in the direction of a gendarmerie helicopter

The Prefect of Gironde declared on October 12, 2024 that shots were heard during the night from Friday to Saturday in the direction of a Gendarmerie helicopter, which was flying over a camp established in the south of the department by demonstrators from the collectives LGV no thanks et Earth Uprisings.

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LGV Sud-Ouest: several thousand opponents gather in Gironde this weekend at the call of the Earth Uprisings

The two associations had announced their mobilization from October 11 to 13, 2024 against the High Speed ​​Line project between Bordeaux, Dax and Toulouse. Opposed to this 14 billion euro project – one of the biggest infrastructure plans of the decade – the collective LGV no thanks denounces on their site the fact that it risks “lacering the territories of five departments”, “destroying nearly 5,000 hectares of land” and “fragmenting ecosystems”. On October 10, all demonstrations were banned by the prefecture in the thirty Gironde communes, “the gathering places [n’étant pas encore] exactly known”. Two orders were also issued on October 5 to ban weapons and fireworks.

Investigation opened after “shots” heard in the night

On October 11, the opponents established their camp in an area to the south of the department. In a press release on the social network [étaient] located several tens of kilometers from the camp.

After their arrival, the gendarmerie helicopter was mobilized to carry out “a reconnaissance flight over the occupied site” according to the prefect. During the night, “several shots” were “heard” in the “direction” of this helicopter according to the elected official, who specifies that “neither the crew nor the aircraft were affected”. According to Le Figaro, these were firework mortars. In a press release on An investigation has been opened to determine whether shots were fired in the direction of the police – and if so, to identify the nature and perpetrators.

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LGV Bordeaux-Toulouse: “It is no longer a project but a construction site”… Despite opposition, the future high-speed line is on track

According to the latest press release from the Earth Uprisings, the opponents are still present on the site this Friday.