French inquiry begins into alleged assault on photographer by police

Officer allegedly hit Ameer al-Halbi in the face while he was covering Paris protest against security law

French investigators have opened an internal inquiry into how a Syrian photographer covering a demonstration in Paris was seriously injured, amid a heated national debate over police violence.

Ameer al-Halbi was pictured with blood pouring from his bandaged head on Saturday after a police officer allegedly hit the journalist in the face with a truncheon.