Man who slapped Emmanuel Macron to appear at fast-track trial

Medieval martial arts enthusiast and ultra-rightwinger Damien Tarel claims act was not premeditated

A medieval martial arts enthusiast who slapped the French president, Emmanuel Macron, across the face will appear before a judge in a fast-track trial on Thursday.

Damien Tarel had acknowledged striking Macron while the president was on a visit to a professional training college, but told investigators it was not premeditated, the prosecutor Alex Perrin said in a statement.