French President Emmanuel Macron's top bodyguard has been charged after a video emerged showing him beating up a demonstrator during May Day protests.
French President Emmanuel Macron (R) walking with bodyguard Alexandre Benalla. Photo: AFP
Alexandre Benalla, long a fixture at Mr Macron's side, was sacked on Friday after he was exposed as the attacker.
He has been charged with group violence, illegally wearing a police badge and three other felonies.
Mr Macron has faced criticism for failing to act sooner, but an official said he considered the incident "unacceptable" and promised there would be "no impunity".
Le Monde newspaper released a video last week showing Mr Benalla at the 1 May protests in Paris wearing a riot helmet and police tags while off-duty.
In the footage, he can be seen dragging a woman away from a protest and later beating a male demonstrator. On Friday, French media released a second video which showed Mr Benalla also manhandling the woman.
ALERTA VIOLENCES POLICIÈRES
— Taha Bouhafs (@T_Bouhafs) May 1, 2018
DES POLICIERS TABASSENT ET GAZENT TOUT LE MONDE PLACE CONTREESCARPE !!
FAITES TOURNER IL FAUT QUE TOUT LE MONDE VOIT !!#ViolencesPolicieres #1erMai pic.twitter.com/Dabr6HHwyJ
Three policemen have also been charged in connection with the attack. They were questioned on Saturday for allegedly leaking security footage to try and prove Mr Benalla's innocence.
Vincent Crase, an employee of Mr Macron's La République en Marche (Republic on the Move) Party, is also being investigated after he appeared in the video.
Public outrage over the incident has been exacerbated by footage that appears to show several police officers watching the incident without intervening.
Mr Benalla had initially been suspended for 15 days and allowed to return to work. Under pressure, the French presidency said on Friday it had decided to begin dismissal procedures.
Critics of Mr Macron have called the president's delayed response a characteristic sign that he is out of touch.
Mr Benalla has not commented publicly on the allegations against him.
French media reported that Mr Benalla, 26, had been granted perks by the presidency such as an apartment in a high-class Paris area and a chauffeur-driven car. He had also been given the highest level of security clearance to the lower house of parliament.
Interior Minister Gerard Collomb is to be questioned by members of the national assembly on Monday and by the Senate on Tuesday.
- Reuters / BBC / RNZ
