Gilets jaunes: Ex-boxing champion detained after clash with police at protest

A French former professional boxer handed himself in to police on Monday after he was filmed repeatedly punching officers during this weekend's Gilets Jaunes (Yellow Vests) protest in Paris.

Christophe Dettinger, 37, is a former light heavyweight professional boxer who twice won the national title in his category.

Footage from Saturday's Gilets Jaunes protest in the French capital - which can be viewed in the above video player - shows him advancing towards and hitting a policeman on a pedestrian bridge.

A second video shows him hitting another policeman until he falls to the ground, where he is then kicked by several protesters.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner tweeted that he was immediately detained upon turning himself in and will now "have to answer for his actions" before the judicial system.

One of the officers filed a complaint against Dettinger and was given two days off. The other is off work for 15 days.

Dettinger defended himself in a video, arguing he "reacted badly" after police used tear gas.

'I love my country'

Law enforcement union, SCPN, tweeted on Saturday that it had identified the man caught on camera, posting a photograph of Dettinger, but did not name him.

"Sir, you who beat a man to the ground, have been identified. For a boxer, you do not appear to respect any of the rules. We will teach you those of the penal code," the SCPN said in its tweet.

In a video posted online on Monday by his relatives, including his sister-in-law Gaelle Galou, Dettinger confirmed he was in the video but defended himself.

"Anger rose up in me and I reacted badly" after being hit by tear gas, he said in the video, insisting that he only "defended" himself.

He also said that he has taken part in all eight days of national action by the Gilets Jaunes movement , which protests against inequality and low spending power.

"I am a French citizen, I love my country, I love my homeland," he added.

Dettinger faces up to three years in jail and a EUR45,000 fine. His family has launched a fundraising appeal.

"Every weekend, this man has peacefully defended his ideas and those of the Gilets Jaunes. This weekend, in the face of pressure, he took a risk to defend protesters," the page said.

By 16.30 pm CET on Monday, more than EUR25,000 had already been pledged.

Against boxing values

In a statement issued on Sunday , the French Boxing Federation (FFB) condemned the violence as "completely contrary to the values of our sport," and denounced Dettinger's behaviour as "intolerable and shameful."

"The FFB sends its support to the family and loved ones of the officer who was a victim of this individual, but equally to all the security forces who have been on duty these last weeks," it added.