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A French police chief is being investigated after allegedly beating up a defenceless black man.

Numerous videos show Didier Andrieux, who was given a Legion of Honour at New Year, holding the unnamed victim up against a wall as he repeatedly punches him.

The attack happened on Saturday afternoon in the south east city of Touoln during violent protests by the anti-government Yellow Vests movement.

"Andrieux can be seen attacking the man, who is not armed and is entirely peaceful," said an investigating source.

"People watching are expressing their horror, and they include many who are appalled by police brutality against ethnic minorities.

"After the attack, Andrieux goes off and punches a Yellow Vest protester who has been pinned up against a car.

"Racism and discrimination complaints will have to be investigated, as will claims of unnecessary violence."

The man was said to have been carrying a broken bottle, and was placed in custody on Saturday night.

Andrieux, whose identity was confirmed to numerous media outlets including national news agency AFP, is a divisional commander who has 400 officers under his direction in Toulon, which is on the Mediterranean coast.

He has just been given a Legion of Honour – France’s highest award for military and civilian merit – in the New Year’s Honours after 34 years of service.

The Toulon Police Prefecture would not comment on Andrieux’s case. A spokesman said there were two police and one demonstrator injured during Saturday’s disturbances.

Similar scenes were replicated during Yellow Vest protest across France, particularly in Paris were there were 37 arrests.

Last July, a French policeman who triggered nights of rioting by shooting a 22-year-old black man dead was charged with murder.

The unidentified officer originally told examining judges that Aboubakar Fofana presented a threat before he was ‘neutralised’ on a housing estate in the western city of Nantes.

Police are often accused of discriminating against those from immigrant backgrounds, and of being especially violent to them.

(Image: Elyxandro CEGARRA/SIPA/REX/Shutterstock)

In 2016, a 24-year-old black man called Adama Traore died in police custody in Beaumont-sur-Oise, near Paris – prompting claims he had been beaten up, and leading to an on-going enquiry.

The worst nationwide riots in recent history took place in 2005, after two teenagers from immigrant families died in an electricity substation at Clichy-sous-Bois, north of Paris, while running away from the police.

There was an investigation, and police were cleared of any wrongdoing, but not before a state of emergency had been declared because of the urban violence.