An investigation has been launched after a video showing a French police officer repeatedly punching a protester in the face was shared online.

In the footage, the officer is seen striking a man who is pinned to the ground during an anti-government yellow vest (gilets jaunes) protest in Paris. The incident was captured by other protesters at Saturday’s demonstration.

The move comes after several alleged incidents of police brutality against pension reform protesters as well as the “yellow vest” anti-government rallies that began more than a year ago.

The Paris prosecutors’ office into French police forces, said it ordered the police oversight body to launch an investigation into “intentional violence against protesters by a person in a position of public authority”.