DUNKERQUE — The French government has launched an official investigation after French police utilized UK-funded 4x4 vehicles to charge at student protesters during recent demonstrations.
The controversy surrounds all-terrain vehicles that were originally financed by the British government for a specific purpose: preventing asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel. Instead, authorities deployed the equipment against students participating in school protests in Dunkirk.
Following reports of the vehicles being used in the crowd control operation, French officials confirmed that an inquiry is underway to determine why resources earmarked for border security were diverted to manage domestic student demonstrations.