PARIS police officers were suspended today after video footage appeared to show them beating up and tear gassing a black man for no apparent reason.

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ordered the suspensions after videos published news website Loopsider showed the violent arrest of a music producer identified only by his first name, Michel, in the capital on Saturday. 

It comes as President Emmanuel Macron’s government is pushing for a new Bill that restricts the ability to film police officers. 

The proposed law has prompted protests from civil liberties groups and journalists who warn that it would allow police brutality to go undiscovered and unpublished. 

Parliament approved the draft law on Tuesday, on the same day that police were filmed brutally tossing migrants out of tents and intentionally tripping one up while evacuating a campsite. 

The Bill will now go to the Senate for approval. 

In the incident today, three officers followed Michel inside his music studio after they apparently saw him walking in the street without wearing a mask, according to Loopsider. 

The published video, both from a security camera inside the studio and filmed by neighbours outside, show officers repeatedly punching him and beating him with a truncheon. 

They then left, called in reinforcements and threw a tear gas grenade into the studio to get those inside to come out, Loopsider reported. 

The report added that nine others, who were recording music in the studio basement, were also beaten. 

Michel told the news site that the officers hurled repeated racist insults at him, and he was taken into custody for 48 hours.

Mr Darmanin tweeted that the Inspectorate General of the National Police (IGPN), which investigates allegations of police misconduct in France, is looking into the case and added: “I want disciplinary proceedings to be led as soon as possible.”

Paris police said in a statement that the IGPN will seek to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the man’s arrest.

The Paris prosecutor’s office is also investigating the police’s actions. 

It said that it has dropped the proceedings against Michel opened on the day of his arrest, and instead opened an investigation for “acts of violence by a person in position of public authority” and “false declaration.”