Europeans demand pick up artist Julien Blanc is banned for inciting violence against women

Thousands across Europe have demanded their governments ban "pick up artist" Julien Blanc, after he announced plans for a new European tour.

Blanc was banned from Australia, the UK and Singapore in 2014, after being accused of inciting violence against women.

In publicity material for his courses, in which he claims to be able to teach men how to seduce women, he is filmed grasping women by the throat.

In a tweet, he said: "Dear girls, could you please save me the effort and roofie [spike] your own drink?"

A petition organised by French women's magazine madmoiZelle is demanding that authorities ban him from France, and has already gained almost 7,000 signatures.

The authors of the petition claim that Blanc's seminars "violate human dignity and pose a risk of disturbing public order."

The petition will be presented to French secretary of state for women's rights Pascale Boistard, who tweeted her thanks to the petitioners.

"Thank you for your vigilance. I am looking at ways to act to stop all speeches inciting rape or acts of violence," she wrote.

In Denmark, where Blanc is scheduled to begin the European leg of his tour on 20 August in Copenhagen, hundreds have signed a petition demanding he is banned, while in the Republic of Ireland, where Blanc is scheduled to appear on 4 July, more than 14,000 have petitioned for him to be denied a visa.

Seminars are scheduled for countries including Germany, Italy and Spain, as well as his native Switzerland. The two French seminars are planned for 20 and 21 October.

In a video accompanying the announcement of the tour, Blanc said that it would be his last as he is taking time out to focus on "big projects". It will also incorporate dates in the US, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Blanc is employed by the US based Real Social Dynamics group, which describes itself as the "World's top dating coaching, self-actualization & social dynamics company" and holds seminars around the world.

Real Social Dynamics has been asked to comment but did not reply by the time of publication.