French police struggle to contain violent protest in central Paris
French police struggle to contain violent protest in central Paris
France Gas Price Protests
French police are struggling to regain the upper hand against violent “yellow jacket” protesters in central Paris, resorting to water cannons to try to quell the demonstration.
The protesters who are angry over rising taxes and the high cost of living have sprayed graffiti on the Arc de Triomphe, torched at least one car, and broke through the metal fence of the Tuileries gardens.
Central Paris was locked down by Saturday, with all roads leading away from the Arc closed off as more police moved in.
Police said at least 224 people have been arrested and at least 80 people have been injured, including 16 officers.
French television showed police leading a shaken woman away from the protesters, and loud bangs rang out near the Champs Elysees where the violence was centred.
Protesters, including some wearing black hoodies, piled up large plywood planks and other material in the middle of a street near the Arc de Triomphe, before setting the debris on fire.
While police fired tear gas and used water cannon near the Arc, some demonstrators responded by throwing large rocks.
Smoke rises from avenues leading to the Arc de Triomphe
Smoke rises from avenues leading to the Arc de TriompheSmoke rises from avenues leading to the Arc de Triomphe (Kamil Zihnioglu/AP)
Others removed the barriers protecting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the First World War, which sits under the Arc. They posted near its eternal flame and sung the national anthem until they were dispersed by police.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo tweeted her “indignation” and “deep sadness,” saying that violence is “not acceptable.”
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen urged the protesters to go home in a tweet.
French deputy interior minister Laurent Nunez said that 3,000 “troublemakers” were around the Champs-Elysees avenue, outside a perimeter secured by police.
Mr Nunez said 5,000 officers were deployed in Paris to try to contain the protests.
French prime minister Edouard Philippe said some protesters have attacked police officers.
France Gas Price ProtestsDemonstrators face riot police officers (Thibault Camus/AP)
Mr Philippe added that he was “shocked” by violence near the Arc de Triomphe.
He said that authorities are “determined to allow peaceful protests”, but will give “no excuse to those coming to make trouble”.
Several hundred peaceful protesters, called “yellow jackets” on account of the fluorescent vests they wear, passed through police checkpoints to reach the Champs-Elysees.
They marched on the famed avenue behind a big banner which read: “Macron, stop taking us for stupid people”.
In addition to rising taxes, demonstrators are furious about President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership. A demonstration last weekend in Paris also turned violent.
Hundreds of people are demonstrating across France over the rising cost of living (AP)
French protestsHundreds of people are demonstrating across France over the rising cost of living (AP)
The clashes in Paris contrasted with protests in other French regions, where demonstrations and road blockades were largely peaceful.
The protests, which began with motorists demonstrating against a fuel tax hike, now involve a broad range of demands related to the country’s high cost of living.
Since the protests kicked off on November 17, two people have been killed and hundreds injured in accidents stemming from the protests, and hundreds of protesters and police have been injured.
Yellow Vest. Facebook
Yellow Vest protests: Violence in Paris escalates
Protests by the French Yellow Vest movement in Paris have again led to violence. Right at the beginning of the demonstration on the Champs-Élysées boulevard, dozens of demonstrators threw stones and fireworks at the security forces.
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Published: December 2, 2018, 7:56 am
PARIS
According to the French daily Le Figaro, cars were set on fire in the afternoon and burning barricades were erected in several places.
The authorities mobilized around 5 000 police officers. They used tear gas and water cannons against the protesters. More than 150 people have already been arrested, according to the government.
Around 60 people were injured, including three policemen. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner spoke of 1 500 violent “troublemakers” who had gathered near the Champs-Élysées. “Our security forces are present and are pushing back the rioters,” Castaner wrote on Twitter.
These are the most violent protests since the beginning of Macron’s term 18 months ago. For the third weekend in a row, the protest movement in France is demonstrating against rising fuel costs and the government’s reform policy.
The anger is also directly directed against President Emmanuel Macron and the range of participants in the movement include rightwing as well leftist protesters. Behind the Yellow Vests there is no union and no party.
View image on Twitter
View image on Twitter
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@GiletsJaunesGo
« #GiletsJaunes » !
Nous sommes à la veille d’un nouveau rassemblement citoyen. 💪
Un seul mot d’ordre ! #Solidarité
Rendez-vous demain matin sur Les Champs-Elysées ! #1erDécembre #France #Paris #GiletsJaunesParis #GiletJaune #GJ #ONLR #LaFranceEnColère
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6:01 PM - Nov 30, 2018
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On Saturday, around 36 000 people took to the streets across the country, according to Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. In Charleville-Mézières in the Ardennes, there were also riots and three arrests on the sidelines of the demonstration.
“Since this morning, 500 to 600 protesters have committed serious acts of violence and damage to city furniture with fires,” Deputy Prefect of the Ardennes, Marie Cornet, told the AFP News Agency.
Leader of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, praised Yellow Vests who had formed a human chain to protect the tomb of the unknown soldier against vandals. She urged conservatives to disassociate themselves from leftist thugs.
Marine Le Pen
✔
@MLP_officiel
💪🏻🇫🇷 Bravo aux #GiletsJaunes qui ont fait rempart de leurs corps en chantant la Marseillaise pour protéger la flamme du soldat inconnu contre les casseurs. Vous êtes le peuple de France se dressant contre la racaille ! 👏🏻 MLP #1erDécembre
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3:05 PM - Dec 1, 2018
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The popularity of the movement quickly depleted the stocks of yellow saftey vests in the town of Narbonne.
The unexpected magnitude of the phenomenon completely took the various stores by surprise, which saw their stocks shrink in just a few days. “We were out of them last week,” says one at the reception of Feu Vert, “But fortunately we were finally able to receive a delivery last Wednesday.
“Our initial stock of a few tens of vests was stormed quickly. Since then, they are delivered only in small batches because of the difficulties of circulation of the trucks which remain blocked at the tolls because of the protest.”
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