Seven separatists from New Caledonia have been flown 1,700 miles from the island group in the Pacific Ocean to the French mainland, where they will be held in custody awaiting trial.
One of those detained is Christian Tein, leader of the independence group CCAT and one of the leading activists in the drive for independence for the island group.
The group is accused of having organised and incited the riots that broke out in New Caledonia last month, when the National Assembly in Paris was about to introduce new rules for which of the island group's inhabitants would be eligible to vote.
Nine people, including two police officers, were killed and hundreds injured in the partially violent riots. President Emmanuel Macron responded by declaring a state of emergency. By the end of May, the situation was back under control after Macron promised not to push through the criticised voting rules.
